the backstory of the best individual performance last decade

johnson was the cricketer of the year in 2009. suddenly went out of form in the upcoming ashes series. barmy army took over him. before 2013-14 ashes, he played only 4 tests in 2 years. was dropped, also got injured. https://twitter.com/InklingOfIrshad/status/1321164698470014976

in the 2013 odi series against india, haddin saw the old Johnson. he was brutally faster, his balls were bouncing on dead wickets, where they should be under the knees. haddin felt his gloves being hit hard. indians were going on backfoot on flat tracks due to Mitch's aggression

haddin tells this to the managment. johnson gets removed from the team in the midway of that odi series...as australia now wants him in his peak form for the upcoming ashes. england became the no 1 test side in 2011, was no 2 in 2013. but something really heinous was on its way.

in comes 2013-14 ashes..tall mitch with a gangsta moustache, tattooed arms & biceps, steaming in against the pommies. as jimmy puts it "I was ready for a broken arm everytime I went out there"..Mitch fractured england. made the board shed half it's team..including the coach

in an era of helmets & covered pitches, where pampered batsmen have the freedom to rock onto their front foot at will, johnson brought back the fear of getting hurt. it was a 80s rewind. & one of the best redemption stories in sports. johnson, the last of the feared fast bowlers