The Special All-rounders’ Club – 500 runs and 50 wickets in a calendar year

#6 Mitchell Johnson (Australia)

Johnson’s second wind saw him become one of the world’s most feared bowlers, ending several careers in its wake. In 2009, Johnson scored 500 runs at 33.33 in 13 Tests and picked up 63 wickets at 27.42. Johnson’s best performances with the bat came towards the end of the year against South Africa in South Africa, including an unbeaten 96 and an unbeaten 123.

Johnson had a successful career for Australia, scoring 2065 runs at 22.20 but more importantly, picking up 313 wickets at 28.40, having played only 73 Tests. However, the southpaw had the gift of timing and was a genuinely good player of fast bowling, skills he could have made more of, if not for his aggressive approach to batting.