Mitchell Johnson with the Australian cricket team in the 2013–14 Ashes series

Mitchell Johnson was a key member of the Australian cricket team in its 5–0 whitewash of England in the 2013–14 Ashes series. He played in all five Test matches of the series, taking a total of 37 wickets at an average of 13.97[1][2] and winning the player of the series award.[3] He was noted for his bowling skills and aggression during the series, which inspired Australia to regain the Ashes for the first time since 2006–07.

Mitchell Johnson

Johnson in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Mitchell Guy Johnson
Born	(1981-11-02) 2 November 1981 Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Left-arm fast
Role	Bowling all-rounder
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut	21 November 2013 v England
Last Test	3 January 2014 v England
Career statistics
Competition Tests Matches 5 Runs scored 165 Batting average 27.50 100s/50s 0/1 Top score 64 Balls bowled 1,132 Wickets 37 Bowling average 13.97 5 wickets in innings 3 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 7/40 Catches/stumpings 1/–

Background

The 2013–14 Ashes was the comeback series for Johnson who had been dropped from the Australia's squad for the 2013 Ashes series in England, the first of the two back-to-back Ashes series that year. Australia had lost that series 3–0, their third consecutive Ashes series defeat.

According to Australian captain Michael Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann, Johnson was recalled to the 12-member squad "partly on the faith that he can demonstrate greater control across the series."[4] Clarke backed Johnson's inclusion in the squad on 12 November 2013 and remarked, "I said a couple of days ago if Mitch was selected in this squad, it wouldn't surprise me if in a couple of months' time you see Mitch being Man of the Series."[4][5][6]

The Ashes

First Test

In the first Test at Brisbane, Australia won the toss and elected to bat. Coming in to bat at eight, with the score reading 6/132, Johnson made 64 including six fours and two sixes. He was bowled by Stuart Broad, ending a 114-run seventh-wicket partnership with Brad Haddin. Australia were eventually dismissed for 295 on the morning of the second day.

In England's first innings, Johnson shared the new ball with Ryan Harris, but went wicketless in his first spell. He was introduced into the attack after the dismissal of Alastair Cook when Jonathan Trott arrived at the crease. Johnson's first delivery to Trott was a short ball that struck Trott on the gloves. In the first ball of his next over, the last over before lunch, Johnson dismissed Trott off another short ball as Trott edged the ball to the wicket-keeper. In the second session, Johnson continued bowling short and had Michael Carberry caught in the slips for 40, bowling around the wicket.[7] He struck in his next over as Joe Root edged a full delivery to third slip. Johnson took another wicket in his following over, as Graeme Swann inside-edged a length ball to short leg, and England had collapsed from 2/82 to 8/91. England were bowled out for 136 with Johnson finishing with the best figures among Australian bowlers (4 for 64).[8]

In their second innings, Australia batted positively and declared on 7/401, setting England a target of 561. Johnson contributed with the bat in the second innings as well and scored an unbeaten 45-ball 39. England's runchase started towards the end of the third day in disastrous manner, losing two wickets before stumps. Johnson continued to trouble Trott with short-pitched bowling; ESPNcricinfo described, "Against Johnson, [Trott] looks unbalanced both physically and mentally." Batting on 7, Trott had mishit a hook off bouncer from Johnson but the ball landed safely. However, he was dismissed on 9 when Johnson had him flicking one straight into the hands of Nathan Lyon.[9]

On the fourth day, Johnson broke the third-wicket partnership between Cook and Kevin Pietersen by dismissing the latter with a top-edge to the long leg fielder. Peter Siddle and Lyon then reduced England to 6/146 and exposed England's lower-order to Johnson. Johnson took three of the remaining four wickets. England were bowled out for 179 before stumps on the fourth day, giving Australia a 381-run victory. Johnson finished with figures of 5 for 42 and won the man of the match for his all-round efforts. Towards the end of England's second innings, the Australians had set an attacking field for Johnson, about which ESPNcricinfo wrote in their report, "Every fielder was there for the kill: four slips, a fly slip, two leg slips, silly mid off, short leg."[10]

Second Test

The second test was held in Adelaide and saw Australia win the toss and elect to bat. The Australians started well with 1/155, however finished the first day at 5/273. The second day ensued with excellent partnerships and Australia declaring on 9/570. England started their innings met with pace and ferocity from Johnson. After beating the batsman on numerous occasion, he was able to claim the first wicket, Alistair Cook (3 runs) after 2.4 overs of play. Johnson made an appeal for LBW on the last ball of the day, however was not reviewed by the Australians. It was later shown on DRS to be out. The visitors ending the day with 1/35.

The third morning saw Australia gain another 2 quick wickets, Root and Pieterson, both caught on 15 and 4 respectively. The scorecard 3/66. Carberry and Bell started to consolidate, with a partnership of 45 runs. However, when Carberry was caught out on 60, this sparked the start of dramatic collapse, that would ultimately see Johnson take the remaining 6 wickets of the innings and win him player of the match. He took the advantage via belittling the new incoming batsman claiming 3 wickets in one over just after lunch. It was the first ball of the 50th over where Johnson dismissed Stokes on 1 for LBW. Four balls later Matt Prior is caught behind on 0. The very next ball Broad is dismissed, bowled middle stump for a duck. After the 50th over England was reduced to 7/117. The remaining batsmen struggled. Swan was dismissed by Johnson, caught at 2nd slip by Clarke. Anderson was then bowled leg stump the ball after for a duck. Johnson at this moment on a hat trick, bowled to Panesar who mistimed his shot, hitting the ball up to bounce just short of the man at cover. The final wicket was 15 overs later where Johnson bowled Panesar on leg stump. England was all out for 172, a 398 run deficit. Johnson was able to claim one of his best ever bowling figures of 7/40.

The remainder of the day saw Australia bat their second innings and were 3/132 at stumps.

Australia declared overnight with the threat of rain on day 4 and 5.

England's second innings started with Johnson taking 2 more wickets, Cook and Bell, on 1 and 6 runs respectively. England had progressed to 6/247 at the end of the 4th day. On the 5th day Australia quickly wrapped up the innings with England all out for 312 (Australia had won by 218 runs). For Mitchell Johnson's outstanding performance he was named man of the match.

At this point in the series (out of the two test matches), Johnson had a total of 17 wickets at an average of 12.[11]

References

1. "The Ashes, 2013/14 Cricket Team Records & Stats - most wickets". Espncricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
2. "Johnson's 37 Ashes wickets, 2013-14". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
3. "The Analyst on man of series Johnson". BBC Sport. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
4. Brettig, Daniel (12 November 2013). "Australia bet the house on Johnson". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
5. "Ashes 2013-14: Mitchell Johnson's redemption one of sport's greatest". BBC Sport. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
6. Marks, Vic (11 December 2013). "Ashes 2013-14: Mitchell Johnson will never be a true fast bowling ogre | Vic Marks". The Guardian.
7. Hopps, David (22 November 2013). "Johnson sparks England's Gabba nightmare". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
8. "1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane, Nov 21-24, 2013". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
9. Hopps, David (23 November 2013). "Warner and Clarke flay England". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
10. Hopps, David (24 November 2013). "Johnson blows England away in a 381-run drubbing". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
11. "Australia thrash England in Adelaide". BBC Sport. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2019.

External links

• 2013-14 Ashes series on ESPNcricinfo