10 things you probably didn't know about Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson carried forward the Australian fast bowling legacy

Throughout a career full of highs and lows, Mitchell Johnson always played his game with a passion which is not easy to match. His efforts with the ball in hand brought a lot of glory to his home country of Australia and he was also a handy bat down the order, using the long handle to good effect.

As he calls it a day from international duties, he has left behind many golden memories for fans to remember and cherish. Looking back at his career, here are 10 things you may or may not know about the fearsome Australian speedster:

He was a junior tennis player

As a kid, Mitchell Johnson’s first sporting love was tennis and he was a huge fan of the legendary Pete Sampras. Not only that, he was also a gifted and highly sought after junior tennis player. When he was 14, he had been given the chance to relocate to Brisbane in order to work towards a successful career in tennis; however, the offer was rejected. It turned out to be the right decision as 3 years later, Australian bowling great Dennis Lillee spotted his talent and arranged for him to join the Australian Cricket Academy.

He hit a six off his first ball in First-class cricket

Mitchell Johnson made his first-class debut in 2001 for his native state of Queensland. In his debut match, which was played against the touring Kiwis, he smashed a six off the very first ball that he faced. This was an early proof of the fact that despite being a fast bowler, Mitchell Johnson was certainly no mug with the bat in hand and could hit the big ones.

He drove plumbing vans after Queensland axed him

Very early on in his career, Johnson went through a torrid experience mainly due to recurrent back injuries and went on to lose his contract with his state side of Queensland. As a result of this, the Aussie was forced to drive a plumbing van for a living as he tried to claw his way back into the state side. He eventually succeeded to make his way back to the Queensland side and went on to make his Test debut in 2007.

It was Dennis Lille who had spotted Mitchell Johnson

He had a strong bond with Dennis Lillee

Mitchell Johnson went on to develop a very strong relationship with Australian bowling legend Dennis Lillee, the first man to give direction to his cricket career. In the year 2007, Johnson travelled to Chennai for a stint with Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation, the same year in which he made his Test debut. The Aussie great also went on to become one of the driving forces behind Mitchell Johnson’s memorable revival at the 2013 Ashes.

He played the 2000 Under-19 World cup

The champion Aussie bowler has also represented his country at the Under-19 World Cup. This happened in the year 2000 and some of his other popular teammates included Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Nathan Hauritz among others. This was the same World Cup which saw the emergence of future icons of the game like Graeme Smith, Yuvraj Singh, Brendon McCullum, Ian Bell and Shoaib Malik.

His famous handlebar moustache was for a cause

Remember Mitchell Johnson’s highly popular moustache during the 2013-14 Ashes! While most of us thought that it was more of an intimidation tactic, that is far from the reason for Johnson growing the moustache. It was in support of a charity foundation named Movember, which aims at raising awareness against men’s health issues such as prostrate cancer and depression. One of the events of this foundation involves growing of moustaches and beards in the month of November to promote their cause. And that is precisely why Mitchell Johnson had done it.

The Barmy Army made up a song to mock Mitchell Johnson in the 2011-12 Ashes

He made his debut after McGrath retired

Mitchell Johnson’s Test debut came in 2007, the same year in which the legendary Glenn McGrath’s quit the game. While McGrath hung his boots early in the year, Johnson made it into the Aussie playing XI in the month of November. Interestingly, he had been handed his first Test cap by none other than the legend himself minutes before his debut Test in Brisbane against Sri Lanka.

He was teased by England fans before the 2013-14 Ashes

The England cricket team’s legendary fan club Barmy Army are known to get after opposition players and Mitchell Johnson learnt this the hard way. Before being the wrecker-in-chief for Australia during the 2013-14 Ashes series, Johnson’s performances had been quite indifferent in the iconic confrontations.

As a result of this, the Barmy Army had made a song which criticised his wayward bowling and they sung it whenever he came in to bowl. However, he did shut them up once and for all with a riveting performance in Australia’s 5-0 whitewash of England in the 2013-14 Ashes.

He has broken a few bones

Mitchell Johnson is not known as one of the most fearsome fast bowlers in world cricket for nothing. He has caused lots of physical and mental damage to players over the years with his brutal pace and raw aggression. Former South African skipper Graeme Smith had managed to get his hand broken twice by Johnson, whereas his fellow countryman Jacques Kallis once suffered a broken jaw thanks to the fearsome pacer.

Not to forget the manner in which he terrorised England’s Jonathan Trott and forced him out of the Ashes series due to depression and burnout.

His wife holds a karate black belt

Johnson is married to an Australian model named Jessica Bratich. Apart from modelling, Jessica also knows a thing or two about karate and is a black belt holder in the sport.