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Former Australian sprinter Mitchell Johnson has revealed he went through a phase in 2011 where he didn’t want to take up the sport. The Queenslander, the highest wicket-taker in the 2013-14 Ashes series, admitted he wasn’t sure how that would turn out for him.
Johnson terrorized the English batsmen with his massive paces and short deliveries, to finish with 37 scalps in five Tests in the 2013-14 series. The left-arm pacer’s efforts resulted in a 5–0 crushing victory for the home side, and he thus won the urn back.
Speaking to the BBC, Johnson recalled how upset and relieved he was being excluded from the 2013 Ashes team due to stress. He said:
“I wasn’t sure if I’d ever play again. I wasn’t interested in cricket at all and didn’t miss it. Before the 2013-14 series, the Ashes series were getting pretty nerve-wracking to me to be honest. I wasn’t really sure how I was going to go. I missed out on picking up the Ashes series.” (2013) in England. At first I was a little upset, but also relieved at the same time because I was really nervous about coming back in Test cricket.”
While the 41-year-old performed well in Perth’s test of the 2010-11 Ashes series, he was below par in the remaining matches. The veteran went wicketless in the First Test in Brisbane and only managed four furrows in the last two matches.
Johnson also missed the entire summer of 2011 as he had surgery to deal with a foot injury.
Mitchell Johnson reveals mental and physical exhaustion after the 2013-14 Ashes series
Mitchell Johnson, who broke unit fighting in England with Peter Seidl and Ryan Harris, added:
“After the 2013-14 series, when we walked off the field in Sydney after the last Test, I just remember saying to my fast bowlers – Peter Seidl and Ryan Harris – ‘I’m so exhausted, physically and mentally’. And they said, ‘We’re absolutely cooked too'”.
The 73-Test veteran confirmed that preparing for the Ashes series is fraught with pressure as players shoulder the country’s expectations. He said:
“I think the mental side comes from the build-up of the Ashes, the weight of the country behind you. You’re just in that bubble for that period of time when you’re playing this series. And you’re just so focused on that. One goal – to win.”
For the 2023 Ashes series, Australia took a 1-0 lead with a thrilling win in the first test at Edgbaston.
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