Mitchell Johnson's arrival was trumpeted so loudly that when he finally made it to Test level - at the fresh age of 26 - he was slightly underwhelming. Instead of thunder, lightning and ground-breaking success, Johnson looked nervous, unsure and struggled with his action. Fortunately for Johnson there is no rush and he retains the immense faith of senior squad members.

After a lengthy introduction to the set-up through the one-day system, Johnson was finally given a Test after spending the entire 2006-07 Ashes series as 12th man. Eight wickets in his opening two games against Sri Lanka showed proof of his potential and his useful variety, but by the end of his maiden season questions surrounded his lack of control and ability for regular penetration. Ricky Ponting relied on Johnson throughout the summer, giving him long spells, often with the new ball, and he rarely went an innings without a wicket. Having started with 34 victims in nine Tests, he has strong statistical grounds to build on over the next couple of years. A half-century against India at the WACA showed his smooth batting skills, and he moved to Perth from Brisbane in the off-season to be with his girlfriend Jessica Bratich, a former national karate champion.

Johnson grew up as Australia's most exciting fast-bowling prospect since Brett Lee first dyed his roots. Quick, tall - he's 189cm - and talented, his best attribute is being a left-arm quick. Only the digging up of a blond legspinner can create more excitement in an Australian cricket scene that has had just three of this style of diamond - Bill Johnston, Alan Davidson and Bruce Reid - pass 100 Test wickets. Picked in the one-day side on promise - his best first-class figures after 12 first-class games were 5 for 43 - Johnson grew steadily to become highly rated on the limited-overs scene.

Dennis Lillee fell hard and instantly when he spotted Johnson as a 17-year-old at a Pace Australia camp and called him "a once in a generation bowler". Lillee immediately phoned Rod Marsh, who was then the Australian Academy head coach, and Johnson was quickly headed to Adelaide and the national under-19 team. Injuries, mostly to his back, kept interrupting his long-term plans, but he played a full season in 2004-05 and was a fixture with Queensland a year later after being picked for Australia A's tour of Pakistan. Another representative catapult arrived in December 2005 when Trevor Hohns launched him into the Australian one-day squad for the final match of the Chappell-Hadlee Series.

Johnson's domestic highlight came when he followed the Bulls' 6 for 900 declared in the 2005-06 Pura Cup final with 6 for 51 and ten for the match to mop up a demoralised Victoria. "What a performance on a flat wicket," his captain Jimmy Maher said. The display cemented a spot on the Bangladesh tour and when he came back he was given a full Cricket Australia contract only two years after driving a delivery truck and considering walking away from the game because of his fourth back stress injury.

On trips to Malaysia and India Johnson showed his capabilities with a series of big wickets, including Tendulkar, Dravid, Lara and Pietersen, and he spent the home season earning regular one-day spells and a World Cup place. More time was spent in the dressing room in the Caribbean, where he didn't play a game, but he defended his right to share in the spoils because of his off-field work ethic.
Peter English August 2008

Australia Under-19s 1999 to 1999/00
Australia A, 2005-06

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