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Full name Mitchell Guy Johnson
Born November 2, 1981, Townsville, Queensland
Current age 26 years 341 days
Major teams Australia, Queensland
Nickname Midge, Notch
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Left-arm fast-medium
Height 1.89 m

Batting and fielding averages

Mat

Inns

Runs

Ave

100

Tests

167

50*

33.40

287

58.18

ODIs

24*

9.20

126

73.01

T20Is

14.00

200.00

First-class

753

25.96

List A

190

12.66

287

66.20

Twenty20

9.50

172.72

Bowling averages

Mat

Inns

Balls

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Ave

Econ

Tests

2130

1118

4/41

6/159

32.88

3.14

62.6

ODIs

1938

1525

5/26

23.46

4.72

29.8

T20Is

174

202

3/22

20.20

6.96

17.4

First-class

6491

3572

115

6/51

31.06

3.30

56.4

List A

3258

2587

5/26

27.23

4.76

34.2

Twenty20

228

256

3/22

21.33

6.73

19.0

Career statistics

Test debut

Australia v Sri Lanka at Brisbane, Nov 8-12, 2007 scorecard

Last Test

West Indies v Australia at Bridgetown, Jun 12-16, 2008 scorecard

Test statistics

ODI debut

New Zealand v Australia at Christchurch, Dec 10, 2005 scorecard

Last ODI

Australia v Bangladesh at Darwin, Sep 6, 2008 scorecard

ODI statistics

T20I debut

Australia v Zimbabwe at Cape Town, Sep 12, 2007 scorecard

Last T20I

West Indies v Australia at Bridgetown, Jun 20, 2008 scorecard

T20I statistics

First-class debut

2001/02

Last First-class

Indian Board President's XI v Australians at Hyderabad (Decc), Oct 2-5, 2008 scorecard

List A debut

2003/04

Last List A

Australia v Bangladesh at Darwin, Sep 6, 2008 scorecard

Twenty20 debut

Queensland v Tasmania at Brisbane, Jan 6, 2006 scorecard

Last Twenty20

West Indies v Australia at Bridgetown, Jun 20, 2008 scorecard

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