Mitchell Johnson announces retirement. Here’s 10 interesting facts about the Australian pacer

Searing Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson on Tuesday (November 17) announced his retirement from international and first class cricket.

Ahead of the fifth day’s play against New Zealand at Perth’s WACA Ground, the 34-year-old left-arm pacer said that he was no longer sure he could continue competing consistently at the level required to wear the Baggy Green.

“I feel now is the best time to say goodbye,” the veteran of 73 Tests said in a statement.

Mitchell Johnson’s awesome display of aggressive, lethal and conventional throwback fast bowling made him a sheer delight to watch. We take a look at 10 lesser-known facts of one of Australia’s best fast bowlers.

1. Johnson the tennis aspirant

Believe it or not, Johnson’s first sporting love was tennis with his idol being Pete Sampras. At the age of 14, he also had a chance to move to Brisbane to pursue his tennis career, but Johnson turned it down. It was only at 17 when he decided to drop the idea of being a professional tennis player and started focusing on cricket.

2. The Dennis Lillee connection

In 1998, it was the legendary pacer Dennis Lillee who spotted the 17-year-old Mitchell Johnson and arrange for his inclusion in the Adelaide’s Australian Cricket Academy.

3. Brilliant Test debut

Johnson, who is the 398th player to play Test cricket for Australia, made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2007 at Brisbane. Veteran pacer Glenn McGrath presented him his Baggy Green and Johnson claimed 4 wickets in the match, creating an impact from the word go.

4. From van delivery driver to the world’s most fearsome bowler

A few years into his cricketing career, Johnson faced massive troubles with injuries. As a result, he was removed from Queensland’s contract list and started to drive plumbing vans. However, Johnson didn’t stop dreaming. It was around that time he groomed himself as a batsman too in Brisbane.

5. Johnson’s deadly blows

Thanks to his pace, batsmen around the world have feared facing Johnson. South Africa’s Graeme Smith faced the brunt of his fury a few times. The Aussie broke Smith’s hand twice in 2009. In the same year, another South African – Jacques Kallis – too received a lethal blow on his jaw as Johnson struck him with a bouncer. Ryan McLaren too was hit on the arm by the Aussie speedster and suffered a hairline fracture.

6. Devastating Injury in 2012

In 2012, Johnson suffered a massive toe injury and contemplated his future in the game. However, his wife Jessica Bratich, who is a Karate Black Belt holder, supported Johnson through those dark days. A couple of years later, Johnson made his way back into all formats of the game and brought out his best.

7. The song penned to unnerve Johnson

Before the 2013-14 Ashes, the English fan-group – Barmy Army – wrote a song for Johnson, which till date remains a part of their song-book. The lyrics of the song are as follows: “He bowls to the left… He bowls to the rightttttttt.. That Mitchell Johnson His bowling is shite!”

8. The moustache man

In the 2013-14 Ashes series, Johnson’s ‘handlebar’ moustache became the talk of the town. The Aussie, who grew the distinctive moustache to promote the Movember men’s health charity, later dyed it pink in support of McGrath Foundation campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer.

9. Numerous nicknames

Midge and Notch are the two most popular nicknames of Johnson. However, Josh Hazlewood recently coined a new nickname calling him ‘Ol Man River’.

10. Awards galore

Johnson’s brilliant bowling skills bagged him recognition and several accolades. He bagged the ICC Cricketer of the Year award in 2009 and in 2014. He is also the only second Australian cricket to have bagged the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. Rick Ponting won it before him.

We wish him all the very best for his future endeavors.