Pakistan vs Australia 2014: A litmus test for Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson

It's never good days when cricket shifts attention away from the field. The controversies regarding Kevin Pietersen's autobiography is unfortunately still taking away much of cricket's timeline. The repercussions of the book just doesn't end in England as many former players with Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith shedding their thoughts too.

Far away from all this, roughly 3400 miles away, the chief who triggered the spark to all of this is gearing up for his next Test assignment. With his moustache as intimidating as ever, Mitchell Johnson is spearheading Australia in their chase to regain the Mace from South Africa. The Test series leg of Australia’s tour of UAE starts on October 22 in Dubai. For most, it's a break away from KP saga. For others, it's time for Test cricket after about a month-long break and there are a bunch waiting to see the left-arm quick with the red cherry again.

Best in the world?

The series, as I see it, could also be a litmus test for the 32-year-old. The name 'Mitchell Johnson' is so often used as a synonym for 'quick bowling' for the past 10 months. There is a good share of populace who rate him as the best in the world. But for every Niki Lauda, there's a James Hunt; for Mitch, it's Dale Steyn. The South African has undoubtedly been the best fast bowler for the past 2-3 years. For a non-connoisseur of the game, Johnson could be miles ahead of Steyn, but reality is a mirage.

Johnson's sudden rise came as a surprise for some. Others, including the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, had foreseen it. What brought about this supremo was the obvious question. What's apparent was that he gathered serious pace, but in doing so he lost one trick from his repertoire; swing.

"He used to walk back to his mark worrying about his wrist position. Now he just goes out there and wang it", were Australian cricket writer Jarrod Kimber's words on the Queensland-born pacer. The quick surfaces in Australia and South Africa helped his cause. Since the inception of the Mojo, Johnson has never had to encounter a slow surface.

Slow tracks a road block?

He was terrifying Down Under, he was lethal in Africa. But UAE could be a different ball game. The Asian square will never provide the same pace as the typical Brisbane or Cape Town turf. Sheer pace alone may not get you anywhere. Here's when the ball reaches Steyn's court.

The South African is a master at the art of swinging the cherry; be it conventional or reverse-swing. Some of the best spells of the 31-year-old have come in the subcontinent. Nagpur 2010 remains one of the finest spells of swing bowling in the subcontinent and even as recently as July this year at Galle during South Africa's tour of Sri Lanka, where his 9-fer gave Proteas the lead.

Johnson might tip Steyn with pace, but there could be a Mississippi between them when it comes to swing bowling and exploitation of reverse swing; what marks the difference between a bowling machine and a seamer in subcontinent.

Could Johnson be neutralised with a slow surface? Or will be come up with the goods yet again? With Ryan Harris and possibly Michael Clarke on the list of absentees, the Kangaroos have lot riding on Johnson. It's his litmus test.