Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson was an Australian left-arm fast bowler whose devastating pace during the 2013-14 Ashes series, taking 37 wickets, made him one of the most feared bowlers of his era.

Mitchell Guy Johnson was born on 2 November 1981 in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, and initially pursued tennis, idolising Pete Sampras and turning down an opportunity to move to Brisbane at 14 to further a tennis career before choosing to focus on cricket instead. Johnson made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2007, and developed into one of the most feared left-arm fast bowlers of his generation, capable of extreme raw pace and steep, awkward bounce that troubled even the finest batters in the world game. Johnson delivered one of the most dominant individual bowling performances in Ashes history during the 2013-14 series, terrorising England's batting line-up with hostile, high-pace spells and being named Player of the Series as Australia completed a 5-0 whitewash. Johnson retired from international cricket in 2015, and has continued his involvement in the sport as a bowling consultant and commentator, remaining widely regarded as one of the most intimidating and destructive fast bowlers of the 21st century.

Johnson bowled left-arm fast with a distinctive slingy action that generated awkward bounce and angles for right-handed batsmen. His ability to bowl consistently above 150 km/h, combined with his natural variation in bounce and movement, made him particularly dangerous on Australian pitches. He was most effective when bowling short-pitched deliveries, using his height and angle to create uncomfortable situations for batsmen.

Johnson's hostile bowling style and ability to single-handedly change the momentum of matches made him one of the most feared fast bowlers of his generation. His performances, particularly in home conditions, helped Australia regain the Ashes and maintain their dominance in world cricket during the mid-2010s.

• ICC Cricketer of the Year 2014
• World Cup winner 2015