Best Bowling Performances of Mitchell Johnson

Here we will have a look at the five best bowling performances of Mitchell Johnson. The hero of the return Ashes series in Australia in 2013, Johnson is close to being the perfect fast bowler with his wonderful action, smooth run up and absolute pace and accuracy. He has the capability to blow away any batting line up in the world. With more than 500 international wickets in his career he has seen all the ups and downs on the cricket pitch. He probably rediscovered himself in IPL 2013 and since then he is ruthless with the ball in hand.

     5. 6 for 31 vs Sri Lanka

Johnson celebrated his 100th ODI match against Sri Lanka in 2011 with his career best figures of 6 for 31 in his 10 overs. He utilized the overcast conditions in Pallekele with some clever piece of bowling. He bowled a splendid spell of seven overs to take four wickets and then in the second spell cleaned up Randiv who was showling some resistance. Australia won the match comfortably by seven wickets.

     

     4. 8 for 61 vs South Africa

The historic Test match at WACA in Dec. 2008 is remembered for the South African heroics where they chased down 414. But in the second innings of the match the Proteas were not able to stand in front of the strom called Johnson. He took 8 wickets in the innings which remains as his career best to restrict South Africa and give his team a healthy lead. In the fourth innings as well he took 3 of the 4 wickets which South Africa lost. 

     3. 5 for 26 vs India

After ending on the losing side in the fourth ODI, the kangaroos were looking to bounce back and take a lead in the series at Vadodara. India were tattered by Johnson in the first innings who was hitting just the right spot to make the Indians lose wickets consistently. Johnson ended up with his first five-for in his ODI career, and in his 10 overs he gave only 26 runs. Australia won the game comprehensively by 9 wickets to take an unbeatable lead in the series.

 

     2. 7 for 40 vs England

Australia scored a huge total of over 500 in the first innings. After losing the first Test which also saw Trott quitting the tour because of a stress illness, England needed to put up a strong fight with the bat to stay in hunt not only in the match for rest of the series. But Johnson was at his best and had no intentions to show any mercy on the Englinshmen. He bowled amazingly well and never gave any chance for the batsmen to settle in. He picked up 7 wickets and none of the 7 could touch the double digit mark. The Aussies got a huge lead after this brilliant bowling perfromance and forced England to follow on and humiliated them with an innings thrashing.

 

     1. 7 for 68 & 5 for 59

After humiliating England in the Ashes, Australia were in South Africa for the 3 match Test series. There were a lot of expectations from Johnson and everybody was looking forward to the contest. Johnson looked to carry from where he left and bowled really well to take seven wickets in the innings. He did not stop there, he also took 5 wickets in the second innings.  Australia won the match by a massive margin of 281 runs.