10 things you probably didn't know about Mitchell Johnson

The Barmy Army made up a song to mock Mitchell Johnson in the 2011-12 Ashes

He made his debut after McGrath retired

Mitchell Johnson’s Test debut came in 2007, the same year in which the legendary Glenn McGrath’s quit the game. While McGrath hung his boots early in the year, Johnson made it into the Aussie playing XI in the month of November. Interestingly, he had been handed his first Test cap by none other than the legend himself minutes before his debut Test in Brisbane against Sri Lanka.

He was teased by England fans before the 2013-14 Ashes

The England cricket team’s legendary fan club Barmy Army are known to get after opposition players and Mitchell Johnson learnt this the hard way. Before being the wrecker-in-chief for Australia during the 2013-14 Ashes series, Johnson’s performances had been quite indifferent in the iconic confrontations.

As a result of this, the Barmy Army had made a song which criticised his wayward bowling and they sung it whenever he came in to bowl. However, he did shut them up once and for all with a riveting performance in Australia’s 5-0 whitewash of England in the 2013-14 Ashes.

He has broken a few bones

Mitchell Johnson is not known as one of the most fearsome fast bowlers in world cricket for nothing. He has caused lots of physical and mental damage to players over the years with his brutal pace and raw aggression. Former South African skipper Graeme Smith had managed to get his hand broken twice by Johnson, whereas his fellow countryman Jacques Kallis once suffered a broken jaw thanks to the fearsome pacer.

Not to forget the manner in which he terrorised England’s Jonathan Trott and forced him out of the Ashes series due to depression and burnout.

His wife holds a karate black belt

Johnson is married to an Australian model named Jessica Bratich. Apart from modelling, Jessica also knows a thing or two about karate and is a black belt holder in the sport.