Six Records held by Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson – The BeastFinally, Mitchell Johnson, popularly called as “The Beast”, has announced his retirement from International Cricket following his poor form in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand. If Mitchell Starc was breaking the speed-guns with his fiery pace, Johnson looked out of sorts in the match and he finds it a perfect time to bid adieu. Mitchell joins players like Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers to have announced their departure from the Australian team this year.While his decision was met with tributes from players and fans across the globe, his years of International service means that statistics are not enough to measure the impact he had on Australian Cricket. We look at some of the records that Mitchell Johnson carved out in his International career:

#1 4th Highest Wicket-taker in Test Matches for Australia

Mitchell Johnson ended up with 313 wickets in his kitty

Australian cricket, traditionally, is well-known for its fast bowling glory and Johnson was another to add flavour to it. Mitchell Johnson has 313 Test Wickets in his kitty in a total of 73 matches, which places him at the fourth spot in the Highest Wicket-takers in Tests for Australia.

While the legendary Shane Warne (708) tops the list, Glenn McGrath (563) and Dennis Lillee (355) are the others who are ahead of him.

#2 3rd Highest Wicket-taker in Tests among left-arm fast bowlers in the world

Another legendary left-arm fast bowler

If the archives for left-arm fast bowlers are to be seen, Mitchell Johnson is ranked third in Test matches in terms of numbers of wickets clinched.

Pakistani bowler Wasim Akram (414) dominates the list while Akram’s Sri Lankan counterpart Chaminda Vaas (355) finds himself at the second spot. His in-swingers in the later part of his career were unplayable and his angular deliveries unsettled even the likes of Tendulkar, Strauss and Smith.

#3 Best bowling figures for a left-arm fast bowler in Test Matches

Rattling the Proteas’ batting fort

Mitchell Johnson wreaked havoc in Cape Town in the year 2008 against South Africa to claim the best figures by a left-arm bowler in Test Matches.

His figures of 8/61 showed a promising prodigy in the making and though his spell was not enough to stop South Africa from chasing down 414 runs – the second successful chase in test cricket – he bowled with utmost precision and aggression to bundle up South Africa in the first innings of the match.

He swung the ball, used bouncers with a demolishing effect and took on the South African batting line-up with his raw pace.

#4 2nd Australian to take 300+ wickets and score 2000+ runs in Test Matches

Mitchell was more than just handy with the bat

If he gained wide acclaim with his bowling, his occasional display of batting helped him in cementing his place in the side. He scored 123* against South Africa in a losing cause in the year 2009 and has 11 half-centuries to his name.

His natural ability to bat aggressively helped Australia in many matches, and he became only the 2nd Australian to take 300-plus wickets and score 2000-plus runs in Test Matches after Shane Warne.

His stats might be surpassed, but he can be called as a resource which amounted to more than a bowler in the side.

#5 Highest number of wickets by a fast-bowler in 4th Innings of a Test Match

The man with second highest number of wickets in the fourth innings of a Test match

If Test cricket is all about spending hard days on the field, winning one requires the ability to take wickets, especially in the fourth innings of a match. His 80 wickets in 39 innings in fourth innings of Test Matches is a rare feat – the second most for any pace bowler after Glen McGrath’s 103 and overall the 5th most.

It speaks volumes about his contribution in winning causes for Australia and how he helped in making Australia a formidable opposition.

#6 Most number of wickets in an Ashes Series since 1981

Ashes 2013 – the beginning of Johnson 2.0

The Ashes Series is one of the biggest cricket stages, showcasing the perennial rivalry between Australia and England. It helped him in resurrecting his Test career at a time when criticism for him had reached its peak.

In his comeback series, Johnson took the better of English batsmen with his 150+ kph deliveries and gave them a taste of primitive tradition of Australian fast bowling. With his wide moustache and a steamy run-up, he trampled upon the English side to claim 37 wickets in the five-match series – highest by a fast bowler in Ashes since 1979.