Johnson retires from all cricket

Mitchell Johnson has confirmed he is retiring from all forms of cricket with his body "starting to shut down" and will not continue on the T20 circuit. 

Johnson last month called time on his Big Bash career with the Perth Scorchers, but had left the door open to continue in the IPL and other domestic T20 leagues.

"It's over. I've bowled my final ball. Taken my final wicket. Today I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket," Johnson wrote for the Perth Now website. 

"I had hoped to continue playing in various Twenty20 competitions around the world until perhaps the middle of next year. But the fact is my body is starting to shut down."

Johnson said he turned down a return with the Perth Scorchers because he "mentally I'm done as well".

"When I sat down with new Perth Scorchers coach Adam Voges recently to discuss my future, he was interested in me playing on again this summer. I did believe I could still be helpful around the playing group with my experience. But I think mentally I'm done as well," Johnson wrote.

"I'm ready to break clear of playing cricket and move on to the next period of my life.

"He has recently been through retiring himself and I think he understood that when you're done, you're done.

If I can't play at 100 per cent then I can't give my best to the team. And for me it's always been about the team."

Johnson played the past two seasons for Perth following his retirement from international cricket and was instrumental in their BBL|06 title campaign, stunning the Melbourne Stars with 3-3 in the semi-final, and taking 1-13 in the final as Perth trounced Sydney Sixers.

The left-arm speedster won the IPL title with Mumba in 2017, having claimed three wickets in the final, and played his final season this year with Kolkata Knight Riders after he was bought by the franchise for A$388,000.

Johnson, who will turn 37 in early November, indicated he would be open to a coaching or mentoring role in the future after a break. 

"My competitive urge hasn't left me and hopefully that's something I can use to channel into a coaching or mentoring role in the future. I'm a believer in sticking to your strengths and cricket is my strength," the left-armer added.

I don't know if I'll be any good at it. I've got a lot of experience in cricket and no experience in coaching officially, though I did help out at Wanneroo last summer and I've always enjoyed working with young players."

Johnson recently turned out for a match of indoor cricket for a friend's team in Perth, bowling spin, and took seven wickets.

A veteran of 73 Tests with 313 wickets to his name and a place in Ashes folklore after monstering England in an unforgettable 2013-14 whitewash, Johnson reflected on the highs and lows of a storied career. 

That dominating Ashes performance featured prominently, as did the battles against South Africa – including his sole Test century in Cape Town in 2009 – and the 2015 World Cup triumph. 

He was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2009 after dominating home and away series against South Africa, but was mocked by English crowds for wayward bowling that winter.

He nearly had his career cut short by a serious toe injury that ultimately proved to be a blessing, allowing him time to freshen up before returning in 2013. 

That season saw him claim the 2014 Allan Border Medal, the highest individual honour an Australian player can win, and was again crowned the ICC Cricketer of the Year.

"I saw more highs and lows than most cricketers and I'm proud that I was able to fight back from adversity in the latter part of my career and produce consistent performances. I made mistakes and I learnt from them," Johnson wrote. 

At my best, I felt like I was meant to be out there and I didn't have to force anything. It just happened."

Source: cricket.com.au