Perth Scorchers of the Big Bash Premier League in Australia has signed up Mitchell Johnson for the upcoming season. Johnson who had played only 3 IPL games after retiring from international cricket is ready to roar in his country’s premier franchise competition. Johnson couldn’t play the last few seasons of the Big Bash as he was with the Australian team on national duty. But this time around he wants to play as well as mentor the young speedsters in the team such as Joel Paris & Jason Behrendorff. Johnson stated that he is elated as he would be playing his debut for the Scorchers as he is based from Perth itself.
After the retirement of Brett lee from all the formats, Mitchell Johnson filled in his boots by providing fierce and brutal speed alongside the traditional Aussie swagger which rightly made the Australian bowling line-up a threat to watch out for.
Johnson’s efforts on reclaiming the 2013-14 ashes down under was scintillating as he picked up 37 wickets in that series where the Australians went on to win the series 5-0.His contributions were monumental as he troubled the English batsmen with his devastating speed and those mind boggling short length deliveries. He was rightly adjudged the Man of the Series for his breath-taking performance.
He was appreciated and lauded by Tendulkar back in 2013 when they were playing alongside at Mumbai Indians. He was then subsequently bought by the Kings XI Punjab in 2014. Johnson provided the Punjab Franchise with deadly pace and steep bounce which made him a vital player for the Kings XI Punjab who were the 2014 runners up of IPL.
Johnson was a driving and a resurgent force behind making Australia reclaiming the pace throne.He can also be called a Legend in the modern era of Australian cricket as his credentials support this cause of his. He bagged a total of 313 wickets in the 73 Tests he played, He also boasts of 239 wickets in the 153 ODI matches which he involved in.
Johnson was in the squad of Australia who went on to lift the 2015 Cricket World Cup. He picked 3 wickets in the final against New Zealand. He dismissed Williamson, Vettori and Henry. He has a habit to perform on big match days as he rightly proved his worth by picking up 2 wickets for Mumbai against Chennai in the Finals of IPL back in 2013.
Though the Australian Speedster has retired from international cricket, there is nothing that can separate him from the game he loves and Signing for the Perth Franchise is a proof of it. It will be a treat for the fans down under as their beloved bowler will be playing in BBL for the first time ever.
IT'S OFFICIAL!!! Welcome @MitchJohnson398 to @ScorchersBBL >> https://t.co/Q0OkLANzz9 pic.twitter.com/SJZRLG9S9W
— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) August 1, 2016
– By Akshath Jeksani