Test Match Special - How To Win The Ashes: Mitchell Johnson on the 2013–14 Ashes series

Episode Date: June 12, 2023

In episode 2, Mitchell Johnson tells his story of how he went on to terrify England's batting order in the 2013-14 Ashes Series down under - with one of the most devastating displays of fast bowling ever seen.

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Hello, welcome to this Test Match special podcast series, How to Win the Ashes. Some of cricket's greatest players we're telling us what it takes to be victorious in the sport's biggest battle of them all. It's November 2013. England have won three consecutive series and our favourites heading into that winter's ashes

after being destroyed in the last series down under and not even being selected for the 2013 summer ashes Mitchell Johnson is out for redemption. He would go on to terrify English batsmen with one of the most devastating displays of fast bowling ever seen in an ashes series. Mitchell Johnson won the 13-14 Ashes series taking 37 wickets and I absolutely loved it.

Johnson bowls to Anderson, his headship. And it now is caught. Court of second slip. Here's Johnson. Bowles and Besto drives Knicks. Caught behind. He gets wickets. He's a fuss bowler.

Nobody's been able to play. Always brought up is what was your favourite series? And a lot of people come up. Must be that 13, 14. Ashes series. It was definitely in the top two. It's a real hard one because South Africa after that was pretty close. So it's probably out of those two series.

But I'd say that series, 37 wickets. Got a few runs as well. And probably the way I went about the game was very, very much old school, that intimidating style of cricket. A gully, forward short leg, and an angry-looking Johnson who runs in round the wicket, bowls to broad, a nasty one, down the leg side. They're peering for a catch is out. I bowled in short spells, I didn't bowl too many long spells, I wasn't there to try and

bowl dot balls. It was bomb a short ball, intimidate the batsman, work with your partner at the other end. They'll get it up there and swing it, if it was Ryan Harris or. if it was Peter Siddell, Nathan Lyon ball in his spin, so it was good fun. Strauss not to face the last ball of this good over from Johnson. He buzzed him. Short and Stros is going to be caught at slip. He is off the handle of the bat.

And Johnson has suddenly got into this tour with a 93 MPH short ball. Yeah, well, 2010-11 Ashes wasn't my greatest, but it was a great learning curve at the same time. In comes there. Johnson and Peterson drives him smoothly and be able. through extra cover for four. Overbeats, full toss rubbish. Johnson's in his third over. He hasn't taken a wicket so far.

He's pacing and again. Up he comes, slings that down outside. The off-stump is cut for four. He's short and wide. I remember the first test just getting absolutely smashed all over the park and the frustrating thing was that you're part of a team. It's not an individual sport, so

although individually you have to be at your best. It is a team game and unfortunately at that time I was, you know, struggling. probably mentally but a little bit physically as well with certain things just playing the game for a few years at that point I think I started in 2007 and sort of was continuously playing for Australia so it's sort of built up over time yeah I just remember struggling I couldn't bowl the ball where I wanted to bowl it I was just struggling with everything I was trying to make excuses in my head just everything was going on in comes Johnson bowls on the leg stump again

and Cook taps it away and this will go for four he's timed that perfectly and bisected fine leg and square leg and that was not a very good over from Mitchell Johnson

Peterson clips him through mid-wicket he falls over in the process the ball may well go all the way to the boundary really is a poor ball by Johnson it's straight on Kevin Peterson's pads exactly the way he wants him to bowl and then I think I was dropped

for the next test in Adelaide and I ended up working with Dennis Lilly and strengthen conditioning fitness coach at the time, Stu Carpinon, and I worked on a couple of things before the Perth test, and then I got picked to play that Perth test and had a great game. I remember just swinging the ball, and it just came out really well. But even then, I still thought in the back of my mind that I didn't quite have it. I still was mentally struggling with a few things. It came the next

test, and I did struggle a little bit. I was a bit up and down, and that was sort of the start of my career, really. It was that up and down sort of rollercoaster ride for me. No, wickets, no runs, a drop catcher. He's the, can't bet, can't bowl, can't field of this tour. So, yeah, it was a really difficult series, but also a really positive one that I was able to learn from it. And I've always looked at it that way throughout my career. Maybe not at the time.

I may not be thinking the positive side of it. But when I look at it and think of all the things that I worked on, there was a lot of positives that came from it. So it was tough, but it was just the way it was. Andrew Strauss joins his teammates and gets a warm shake of the hand from Michael Vaughn who hands over the Waterford Crystal and there they go those are the pictures that you'll see

on your back pages possibly as early as tomorrow and being smothered by glittery stuff that's just exploded into the air it's like a blizzard here pretty flat I think that sort of led up to me getting an injury in South Africa there was a fair bit going on behind the scenes for me and I wasn't able to just leave that behind the scenes. I started to bring that into

my cricket and my mental game really struggled. I didn't want to play cricket for a while. It was about a month that I just had no interest in cricket at all and I didn't miss it. I wasn't sure if I was going to play again. I was 30, had an injury. A lot of people saying that I was down the pecking order in the bowling, bowling ranks. And then I started to get that desire back and I had a plan. I made a plan to work myself back into the team, get myself another chance, or give myself another chance. And the process was a long process. I sourced out some guys in Perth, the Mill Gym, X-run S-A-S-A-S guys, and just learnt a lot of discipline and a lot of hard work. And that was a real, real good starter for me. And actually something I stick to these days

just outside of cricket. So they help me with a lot of things. But ultimately, it all came down to me and having the belief. Johnson starts a new over, he slings it wide of off-stump, Bell at top edge on the cut, and he's caught. Caught by Tate at third man, four metres in from the boundary rope. The other thing was, is just enjoying the game. I think I lost the love and enjoyment of the game. And when you're in that bubble for so long,

you do tend to miss that and forget about the enjoyment side of it because we all play it. We all started playing it because we enjoyed it. So, yeah, I was able to go back in, back in. I had the belief. I had done all the mental, the physical stuff outside of that. And yeah, I just got myself into a really good place and to really enjoy the game again. Australia don't let us rejoice for me are young and free. The head of the 1314, Ash's series was pretty nerve-wracking to be honest. I was really unsure of how I was going to go.

how I was going to go. I'd missed out on the series before that in England. I didn't get in the squad. And at first I was a little bit upset but also relieved at the same time because I was really nervous about getting back into test cricket and especially back into test cricket playing an Ashes series which is it's the top for us. Australia's Good morning from us, good evening to you and welcome to the Gabba, where we're half an hour away

from the first ball of the next installment of Ash's history. The Gabatois, the joys of bowling there, the fast, bouncy track. It's quite a big ground as well, so square boundaries are quite big, so you can use a short ball quite effectively there

as a wicket-taking delivery. It's a gorgeous day here in Brisbane, just some puffy white, clouds around blue sky, it's hot, and there was a real buzz around Brisbane and around this very special cricket ground at the moment. Coming to that 13-14 series, I was still pretty nervous because I hadn't tested myself at test cricket. Here we go, the first ball of the Ashie series. Anderson runs in bowls. Oh, he tried to take a bat out of the way there, I reckon Rogers, who plays it down into the gully. A late decision, waiting for some in-swing. It didn't

happen. I remember the first two I was bowling to Alistair Cook. I couldn't actually breathe. I was like physically like struggling to breathe because I was so nervous. Johnson losing once more. The ball to cook, it's short and Cook goes after it and swaps that away out towards the deep forward square leg boundary. I can see the ball they're bubbling tantalizingly towards the rope in the distance has just enough on it. And he got a pull shot away from me early on and I felt like it was a good ball and it was one of my strengths bowling the short ball and he got it away and I was a bit sort of gutted and I thought, not again.

And then I went back to fine leg and I just sort of composed myself and got myself back into a good space and I came back for a second spell and got my first wicket. And that sort of just set me on my way and yeah, I felt pretty good throughout the whole series.

Johnson Bolster Trottis down the leg's side. He tries to flick it away. He's a pill of a catch and he's out. Australia had a breakthrough just before lunch. on his way, is there and he bowls. That's a full of length. His edge should have caught, caught it slip. And that is brilliant cricket by the Australians.

Johnson comes up and bowls to Trot. Trot goes back and he hits the ball. And he's out. He's caught behind Square. When you come up against Mitchell Johnson's in that kind of form, it can really rough you over. Then he goes and he bowls to Anderson. Down the leg side, he's going to be caught.

He's been caught by Johnson himself. Caught and bowled. It's all over. And Australia win by 381-191. runs, Mitchell Johnson finishes with five wickets, nine in the match, man in the match, surely. Yeah, there was a pretty clear game plan and the game plan was to, I wouldn't say be nasty, but just not interact with the England team at all when we saw them around the ground. Outside the ground, yeah, say hello, but don't engage too much.

So we made a real, like, real effort to, I guess, not say anything to them at all. I heard that they found that that was quite nasty. We may have even been called some nasty names by them, but yeah, that was a clear game plan for us. That was the one thing that I was really, really happy about is that we stuck to our game plans throughout the whole series and we never let up. I actually remember in the first test,

I didn't mind getting verbal generally, but I made a real conscious effort not to say anything in that first test especially. it was Kevin Peterson I think he got off a single and he came down towards me and started chirping at me and I had covered my mouth

to not say anything because I was worried I was going to blurt something out and so I didn't say anything and it was a first for me and I think he actually wrote about that in his book as well he was a bit surprised

and he thought this is a different Mitchell Johnson so yeah I definitely I was pretty proud of that moment to hold my tongue. Here we are 11 days and thousands of miles via Alice Springs later in Adelaide, the city of churches where England desperately need to win and to level this series. The sun's shining at the moment, we've had some passing showers, it's that sort of day today.

They're blowing through on a strong breeze. I think for me individually I was trying to go from Brisbane to Adelaide and perform well there as well because I'd felt like I'd never had that consistency through my career. It was that roller coaster ride that I had, whereas I just wanted to have that consistency like Glenn McGrath used to say you want to bring your good performances and bad performances closer together. And in goes Anderson to bowl the first ball. It swings into the left hand. There with no real pace there, I must say, pushed out to Carbury at point, and we're underway. Here is again, bowls, and it's bowling. Cook it out, and he looked all at sea.

And Alastair Cook is bowled by Mitchell Johnson. lion and uh rude swings it in the air it's going out behind square he could be caught he's out he's caught that's a poor shot he's caught by rogers in the deep there is more brains in a chocolate mouse comes johnson again bowls edged and he's out i think caught behind fantastic bowling by mitchell johnson it just carried to brad had in prior walks rather sadly off johnson goes in looking to finish it off bolster panisar he has finished it off he's bowled him England, they're all out, bowled out for 172, a terrible day of batting for them. Apart from Ian Bowley, 72 not out.

And England are 398 runs behind on first innings. So I guess when we got to Adelaide and I was able to perform there, I sort of felt like even the team was starting to really get up and about, really have that confidence and that belief as well. because you can never get too far ahead of yourself in the game because it will come back to bite you and we knew that England were a great side. Australia have declared on the overnight score of 132 for three

they are going to waste no more time to get at England. Johnson Bowles short, Cook goes to hook it, down to long leg it comes and Harris takes the catch. What an appalling start. Not sure I believe I've seen that. Alastair Cook has hooked Mitchell Johnson to long leg. Harris takes the catch

and England are one for one. Harris Bowles and Panasar's caught and it's all over. A sorrowful performance by England is all you can say is they've lost this second test match and they go two nil down. We got that win in Adelaide

and we had a bit of confidence going into Perth. We knew that we were close. How very different it is now with England absolutely on the back foot and Australia widely expected to win this match and to win the ashes. But we weren't sure until that very final ball. We had to be on it the whole time.

So we just had this incredible focus throughout the whole series where we never thought for one moment we were at the start we were going to win 5-0. Obviously you want to win the best that you can. But we just took one game at a time. It was as cliched as that. And we had every bit of focus on each game. Warner just turns that with his wrist neatly past short leg

and goes for the single that brings him to 50. Anderson goes in. That's swung away, and that's gone for four. That was a magnificent shot. Swung away off the back foot by Smith. And the score goes up to 236 for five. President again, oh, and then he's gone. He's gone.

Siddell nibbled at that and was taken behind the wicket, and the innings is over for 385. Johnson again, past Billy Bowden, his low. Bowles, the Yorker appeal for him before the wicket. I'm giving it out from here. He's gone. Absolutely plum. Not even Stuart Broad is going to review that.

Siddell again. Starting in now, up to the wicket. Bowles now to Anderson there. And he's gone there. He played that away. He was caught that short leg, fended away off his body. Bailey took the catch, and that is the end. Anderson is out.

England, all out for 251. Anderson in again, bowls down leg side. Watson flicks. He celebrates a leg glance for Watson. He salutes the sky. takes his helmet off now. All played Shane Watson. Terrific hundred here at the Wacker.

Warner 97 waits for Swan. Cuts and he's going to get four, I think, here. It's going to be his hundred. Yes, the ball's gone. Behind square on the off side. David Warner, helmet off, jumps in the air. 22 off it, Anderson Bowles, and he's smashed him again. Another six.

Over long on. Surely that's it Michael Clark call them in they've had enough and Michael Clark is calling him in well what a way to finish 28 of that Anderson over

and that's a 504 run so 5404 to win Clark was looking at that 500 mark before he pulled them in Johnson's on his way Bowles to Anderson is there and that's so into the next side

he's taken Anderson is out Mitchell Johnson takes a wicket and how fitting it should be that it's Mitchell Johnson that takes the wicket that wins Australia the ashes yeah there was a time of reflection and through all the heartache it didn't come up and it made me quite emotional at the time he was taken apart last time England were here destroyed by the Barmy army and what a response this man has made you know just sitting back with people

that you've gone through that whole situation with, my family and friends, yeah, it was very emotional. Those achievements, it actually probably goes back to the third test after winning it, where I really felt that joy because we won an Ashes series, hadn't won one before and been involved in a few and yeah, it probably was. that third test where I remember standing and sort of standing with my arms out and I felt like a bit of a goose actually but I was in the moment and I just really felt like I'd achieve something.

in 1999 and I hit 140 kilometres an hour in the nets bowling to a guy called Lee Carceladine who played for Queensland and I guess at that point I sort of thought that was pretty quick but I wasn't until I spoke to Dennis Lilly and he spoke to me about you know you left armour you've got that extra bit of pace you've got this you got that and then it started to sink in a little bit after that but it took me a while to know exactly how to to harness all that speed that you have and to have it in control, use that in control, use that aggression as well.

So all those things took a little while, but yeah, it was probably in early 20s that I really realized that, you know, I had some pace. And then goes Johnson, bowls short. Oh, now what's he done here is gonna be caught? Flintov's gonna be caught at short, third man. It was good bowling from Johnson, short ball aimed at the body.

I actually wanted to play tennis, so it wasn't even cricket, But I wanted to be like Pete Sampras. He was my idol and Stefan Eggberg. But as I got a little bit older and cricket became a bit more prominent for me, I wanted to be like Kurtly Ambrose. I remember watching Kurtley Ambrose. I remember watching Kurtly Ambrose in a one-day series.

I was at my best friend's house and we'd go in the backyard and I'd bowl like him the same action. but obviously I was a left-arm version. And what I absolutely loved about him was the way he went about the game. He bowled fast, but he had that aggressive nature to him. It just had that stare, which I really loved, and it always stuck with me.

And then as I started to get into my cricket a bit more, I think it was like Brett Lee. I remember saying in an article that I wanted to bowl as fast as Brett Lee, if not faster. So he was probably another hero of mine, and I got to play with him. over a few years as well so that was pretty exciting hello everyone good morning and happy christmas hope you having a great day and preparing for the long haul through the night i think judging by

what's happened so far we might need a couple of stiff ones to get you through but here we are at the mcg this vast concrete stadium with the crowd piling in a boxing day test match is very special but an ashes one is even more special here is the first ball of the boxing When you've got 85,000 plus fans there, nothing beats it. There's Ryan Harris, who bowls and Cook comes prodding forward, a little uncertain if I'm honest, and there's no run. So we're underway. It's what you play sport for.

That's the ultimate really, like it's out there playing in front of huge crowds and showcasing your talent. We're heading up towards, it's only 80,000. They're hoping here for 90. It's Mitchell Johnson, bowling to Bresnan. And he goes and bowls short. It's fended away, and he's out. and he's out first ball.

Running back, a very good catcher by Bailey its short leg. Johnson, Bowen. Owen Broad is at his head in front. Yes, he's LBW. He's LBW. And Broad has gone. LBW to Johnson, who's got his fifth wicket.

It's if they're bullying England now, really. It's just, it's a little bit unkind. Roof comes forward driving and gets a run down there for Johnson. He tries with the stunts, and I think he's hit them, and that could be out. The Australians are certain it is.

Well, what a cricket. There he is, goodness me. He's scored runs, he's done things like that in the field, and look at his wickets. Hamasar on his way, moves in bowls to Watson. It hits it away over the leg side, and that's it. He's celebrating before the ball goes into the boundary, which it surely will. And Australia have hammered England here. They've hammered them in the series.

They've hammered them in this match. By eight wickets here. By four-nil in the series. I still get goosebumps to the 13-14 series, and I get a lot of people come up and talk to me about that one and I think just having an impact on an Ashes series yeah I'll

never I'll never lose that and I'm always going to be proud of it Australians there by Michael Clark catches telling the crowd the crowd to make a noise in comes Harris and he bowls to rank in who's brilliantly caught by Michael

Clark at second slip and that it is it's 5-0 to Australia A crushing defeat by 281 runs. And the players are in a little knot congratulating each other. They've absolutely blown England away. I got the opportunity to play in Ashes' series and a few

and I was able to win one. So I'm happy. I'm just happy that I was able to play with good people, play against great opposition, the best players in the world. The Australian Ashes team, we're in the series 5-0. They all come onto the podium at the moment that the Australians here have all been waiting for.

Shane Worn has handed that crystal urn to Michael Clark. He's leaving the stage. There'll be fireworks. There'll be all sorts going off now. And Michael Clark has the little replica. Up it all goes. Green and gold is the bunting. Been fired out of these cannons on either side.

The man of the series. is Mitchell Johnson well I actually don't remember lifting the end to be honest I just remember being so exhausted I honestly felt so tired so we had the presentations and you're still bubbling and everything's going you're absolutely loving it it's great

and then we're walking off the field I think we did a bit of signing and some photos and things like that and you're still in that moment it was pretty amazing pretty special and then I remember walking into the change room and I stood in a corner next to a slushy machine that we had someone had poured vodka and stuff like that into it so that was my first drink and I just remember standing in the corner

having this slushy vodka and just wanting to fall asleep and my wife had come in and we had like heaps of people in the dressing room at the time celebrating with us and all I wanted to do was go to sleep I was done I was exhausted and yeah, a couple more vodka's later than I was okay. That was the latest episode of How to Win the Ashes and you can watch the documentary in full now on the BBC I player.

Don't forget there's full coverage of the Ashes and the women's ashes coming up this summer across the BBC on radio, TV and online, including commentary on every ball on Test Match special. It just smashed right into the World Trade Center. It was a big, big explosion of place. People who knew me. A story about lies. You used a terrorist attack.

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