Mitchell Johnson

[CLUBMEDhurst]

He's too mentally fragile.

This indeed!

Ever since mummygate, his bowling has gone decidedly southward.

Any bowler who can't get his action right by the age of 30 (when most bowlers, even suburban trundlers, have a good understanding of their art).

Send him to the dark, dank history bin!

 

[Lemma]

Inconsistent, erratic bowling. No thanks.

 

[Sylvia Saint]

Definitely finished at test level. Well, he should be anyway.

Others have already covered why but you cannot have someone as erratic and loose as Johnson playing test cricket (let alone leading the attack). If he ever returns to the test side we will have regressed badly.

You just have to look at the way Pattinson (and the others) bowled in Melbourne and compare it to Johnson's efforts in the corresponding fixture last year against the Poms. Worlds apart.

Also Patto and Siddle are gunning it with willow in hand down the order, so Johnson's batting advantage won't get him back. TBH his batting was just as erratic and unpredictable as his bowling. Plenty of ability but also plenty of low scores.

He's no slouch as 190 test wickets would attest to, but he's not consistent enough to get back. Ever. It's a shame because a spell he bowled in one of the South African tests in 2009 was as good as I've ever seen, as was his match winning effort in Perth last summer. But in between that, far too much rubbish.

 

[Yidaki]

I still think he has something left in him to give to the Australian side. Question is, how will he slot back in? Needs to hit some form and prove better than his counterparts that currently fill his spot. Still a good player and at his best, is quite dangerous.

 

[Andrew Mc]

Hopefully he's finished, yes. Too inconsistent. With Cummins and Harris in the mix with Pattinson (would be close to the first bloke picked at the moment, but he's young, so might have issues with keeping his form up), Siddle and Hilf, I can't see him replacing any of them.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I can't really see him forcing his way into the current team, but as we all know, fast bowlers break down, and I'd him to be around and taking wickets if we need him.

 

[swingdog]

Mitchell Johnson would struggle to get a game for our club side. Should never be allowed near a Test arena again.

Let's also dispel a few myths:

Myth 1 - It's good to have a left-hander in the attack......since when? Because those great West Indian teams, the current English and South African line-ups and the Australian teams of the dominant Taylor-Waugh years were overflowing with left-handers. Oh hang on, no they weren't.

Myth 2 - Mitch is dangerous. No, apart from about 3 tests, he really wasn't. Watch how easily the English just watched his vaguely good balls go by knowing there would be a big pile of crap coming served wide outside off.

He's going to be remembered in the same way we now remember all those blokes Australia tried out in the 80s wondering how the he'll did they ever get a game?

 

[Doctor Feel]

Will fade like S. Tait. Hes become a metro, sleeve tatooed self indulged lazyboy.

 

[aussie1st]

Mitch who? Had forgotten all about him until this thread was created. Even if he kills it he'll need at least 2 seasons to show this by which stage he'll be 33 while the youngsters including Starc would also have 2 more seasons worth of experience. He is done in the Test side, may remain in the ODI setup, may not if we give guys like Faulkner, Coulter-Nile, Hazlewood, Richardson and co a go in the ODI side.

 

[sherb]

Mitchell Johnson would struggle to get a game for our club side. Should never be allowed near a Test arena again.

Let's also dispel a few myths:

Myth 1 - It's good to have a left-hander in the attack......since when? Because those great West Indian teams, the current English and South African line-ups and the Australian teams of the dominant Taylor-Waugh years were overflowing with left-handers. Oh hang on, no they weren't.

Myth 2 - Mitch is dangerous. No, apart from about 3 tests, he really wasn't. Watch how easily the English just watched his vaguely good balls go by knowing there would be a big pile of crap coming served wide outside off.

He's going to be remembered in the same way we now remember all those blokes Australia tried out in the 80s wondering how the he'll did they ever get a game?

Seriously, I wonder about the rubbish some people write here. No point dispelling myths on one hand if you are going to create them on the other, eg:

Bolded statement no 1 - what is your club side? Tell me why Johnson would struggle to get a game with them please.

Bolded statement no 2 - how many of those guys in the 80s who you refer to took nearly 200 test wickets at just over 30 and scored over 1000 runs at over 20?

You may think that Johnson is an unfulfilled talent (I certainly do) but he has had a pretty solid test career. I don't see why people can't just show a bit of respect and acknowledge that.

 

[Parquet Court]

cricket australia will schedule a shield game in perth when the sea breeze is forecasted to blow at 30 to 40 knots, he will come in from the lillee marsh end, take 10 for and then come out and bludgeon a few maximums and slot straight back in the test side.

i actually do think this, maybe not the outrageous conspiracy theory but i think he will be back, is a clarkey mate and is great for cricket australia's KFC and asic's ads with his sleeve tattoo

 

[Alexwce]

No room for his style of bowling in test cricket. Still believe he has a role to play in ODI cricket however.

 

[dumb]

wonder if he could slow down a bit to gain some control, otherwise he might even find himself not able to get into the one day side. won't see him again this summer anyway.
could see during the saffer tour that he just lost all confidence... short run up? think he even tried to bowl a bit slower then. trying anything to not bowl pies.

is probably sunning himself at the moment. wasim akram's offer of help/coaching went ignored those couple of years ago, makes you wonder how much effort he will really put into improving.

 

[legend166]

cricket australia will schedule a shield game in perth when the sea breeze is forecasted to blow at 30 to 40 knots, he will come in from the lillee marsh end, take 10 for and then come out and bludgeon a few maximums and slot straight back in the test side.

i actually do think this, maybe not the outrageous conspiracy theory but i think he will be back, is a clarkey mate and is great for cricket australia's KFC and asic's ads with his sleeve tattoo

Is there any evidence that he is 'a Clarkey mate'?

I think I've seen that accusation levelled against every player in the side now.

 

[Borisdog]

wasim akram's offer of help/coaching went ignored those couple of years ago, makes you wonder how much effort he will really put into improving.

This is a top call.

There has always been precious little evidence of attempts to improve.

On the other hand there's always been an abundance of evidence to point to considerable intestinal fortitude/application issues.

As far as him deserving respect for his 170 or so wickets etc, sure, but gee he was given a lot better run than many others of lesser talent but greater application who may well have achieved the same given the same amount of matches. We'll never know though.

 

[swingdog]

Seriously, I wonder about the rubbish some people write here. No point dispelling myths on one hand if you are going to create them on the other, eg:

Bolded statement no 1 - what is your club side? Tell me why Johnson would struggle to get a game with them please.

Bolded statement no 2 - how many of those guys in the 80s who you refer to took nearly 200 test wickets at just over 30 and scored over 1000 runs at over 20?

You may think that Johnson is an unfulfilled talent (I certainly do) but he has had a pretty solid test career. I don't see why people can't just show a bit of respect and acknowledge that.

I'll put a smiley face to denote hyperbole next time when referring to the club side. My bad, I figured it was obvious.

He's goi to be rightfully forgotten in the same way those 80s blokes we, that's my point.

 

[swingdog]

One thing I would be serious about regarding him at a club cricket level, I'd never show his action to a young fast bowler as an example of what to do. Got to be the worst action I've ever seen.

 

[Cleavy]

One thing I would be serious about regarding him at a club cricket level, I'd never show his action to a young fast bowler as an example of what to do. Got to be the worst action I've ever seen.

surprising that Lillee didn't sort him out at 15.

 

[Icanwalk]

God I sincerely hope so. With his excuse for an efficient action, he should never be allowed near our quality up and coming quicks. Reckon that in a few years Pattinson and Cummins will be among the best pacemen in the world. Both have solid actions, particularly Pattinson, reminds me a bit of Kaspa in this regard.

Surely Johnson spearheading the attack in front of these two would be detrimental to their development. A solid third line paceman like Siddle would be much more effective at complimenting their development.

 

[tombomb]

I think Johnson will definitely get opportunities to come back in. Once your are 'in' the Australian cricket team ... it is very difficult to get "out"

If there are any injuries, he will be the first they pick and if he does ok then it will be back to normal.

 

[Parquet Court]

Is there any evidence that he is 'a Clarkey mate'?

I think I've seen that accusation levelled against every player in the side now.

no evidence on that, with your captain on the selection committee, these sort of accusations are going to be thrown about...brad haddin anyone?? how the muppet continues to play is mind boggling.

i think that if mitch had remained fit, he would still be playing, was on the right side of the selectors, how? im not so sure

 

[sherb]

no evidence on that, with your captain on the selection committee, these sort of accusations are going to be thrown about...brad haddin anyone?? how the muppet continues to play is mind boggling.

Why are accusations thrown around because the captain is on the selection committee?

The captain was on the selection committee on overseas tours for years and no-one seemed to have a problem with that.

Do you have a problem with the principle (ie the captain being on the selection committee) or who the captain sitting on the selection committee actually is?

I would suspect the latter.

 

[swingdog]

I don't think the Clarkey's mate thing stacks up.

If you saw the series in Sri Lanka and South Africa, Clarke obviously had no confidence in him, often taking him out of the attach after 2-3 overs. I can remember the looks on Clarke's face standing in the slips, really hoping Johnson would put one on the pitch and grimacing at each piece of filth served up.

Compare to Melbourne when seeing Pattinson steaming in. Looked like a kid whose just found the lolly jar.

 

[sherb]

I'll put a smiley face to denote hyperbole next time when referring to the club side. My bad, I figured it was obvious.

He's goi to be rightfully forgotten in the same way those 80s blokes we, that's my point.

You should. Given the nature of the rest of your post, there was no indication that you were being sarcastic.

I am not a fan of Johnson, but tell me this. What is your problem with a bowler who took 190 test wickets at around 30, at about 4 wickets a test, and a strike rate of 56?

In addition to that, he scored around 1200 test runs at over 20.

He could have been more, but he has had a very solid test career. Why can't you have the decency to acknowledge that?

 

[Bucking Beads]

I expect him to still be around the mark TBH. He will most likely come back in top shape with his body fresh. He will dominate shield cricket with both bat and ball especially is he is still driven to play test cricket. He really wouldn't be a bad option as the 4th quick on the odd occasion but I don't expect him to be back as the mainstay of our attack again. I think he will continue to dominate the ODI stuff for Australia where he has an exceptional record.