Mitchell Johnson is Australia's most exciting fast-bowling prospect since Brett Lee first dyed his roots. He's quick, he's tall, he's talented, but most of all, he's a left-armer. 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's future depends on whether he can stay fit and keep taking the big wickets.

Dennis Lillee fell hard and instantly when he spotted him 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 season as Australia's Test 12th man before 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. Test rewards finally came at the start of 2007-08 and he was composed in his opening two matches against Sri Lanka. Eight wickets showed proof of his potential and his useful variety.

At 189cm, he has the height to worry batsmen and is intent on scaring them as well. Shane Watson, his Queensland team-mate, has been impressed. "He has just about the most talent I've ever seen in an all-round athlete and I've only seen him playing cricket. If he can keep improving the sky's the limit."
Peter English December 2007

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

• Australia cruise to 5-0 series win (Jul 6, 2008)
  
• Johnson stays with Queensland despite move (Jul 4, 2008)
  
• Ponting confident Johnson can bounce back (Jun 18, 2008)
  
• Old and new faces share the load (Jun 17, 2008)
  
• Change in outlook rewards Johnson (Jun 13, 2008)
  

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Jul 6, 2008 The Australia squad with the trophy after securing a 5-0 series whitewash © Getty Images

Jul 6, 2008 Mitchell Johnson celebrates the wicket of Chris Gayle © Getty Images

Jul 6, 2008 Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Johnson celebrate one of the bowler's five wickets © Getty Images

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