How Phil Hughes' Death Subdued Aggressive Mitchell Johnson

Fast Bowlers make a living out of aggression. Their fiery bouncers, accurate yorkers and intense stares can rattle any batsman. Mitchell Johnson, who retired from international cricket this week, believed and practiced it with expertise till teammate Phil Hughes' death after being hit by a bouncer almost a year back.

 

Hughes, who was playing a Sheffield Shield Game for South Australia, collapsed on the ground after being hit at the top of his neck by a bouncer from fast bowler Sean Abbott of New South Wales. On November 27, 2014, Australian opener Hughes, who played 26 Tests and scored three tons, died as the whole cricketing world felt devastated.

Australia opener Phil Hughes died on November 27 2014, after a bouncer from Sean Abbott hit his neck.

© AP

Death left Johnson soul-searching

This incident had a major effect on left-arm fast bowler Johnson, who himself terrorised batsmen with short-pitched deliveries. It was a time for introspection for Johnson, who retired as Australia's fourth highest Test wicket-taker with 313 scalps. (Mitchell Johnson Picks Final Two Wickets in Drawn Perth Test) 

"It (Hughes' death) still hurts to this day. It definitely affected players around the world and I think it changed the game a little bit for a while there," Johnson told ABC. (Mitchell Johnson Has Always Been a Special Bowler)

"I had that Ashes series where I was really aggressive and bowling a lot of short balls and I did hit players. And it made me think, was I doing the right thing? You know, was I playing in the spirit of the game?"

Johnson, who has 239 ODI wickets in 152 matches, also saw his form dipping after Hughes' death. He picked 43 wickets at 34.3 in 12 Tests after the tragic incident, while he had scalped 58 wickets against England and in South Africa at an average of 15.5 the previous season.

However, the 34-year-old Johnson said though he contemplated changing his style, he ultimately did not do it.

"I've always gone out there and bowled fast, bowled my short balls, been aggressive," he said. "I just felt I couldn't go the other way."

'Lost Hunger to Compete'

Regarding his retirement in the middle of the three-match Test series against New Zealand, Johnson said his decade long international career had taken its toll on him.

"I just lost the hunger to compete. What I used to enjoy about Test cricket was those tough days, those difficult days. But I was not enjoying it anymore," he said.

Johnson, however, was confident that his absence would not be felt much as Australia has a great bench-strength when it comes to fast bowlers.

"The depth that we have is phenomenal. Guys like Pat Cummins, James Pattinson are very talented. I am very happy with the fast bowlers in the current team," said Johnson, who picked seven wickets in his final Test series.

Australia are currently 1-0 up in the three-match series. The final game will be played at Adelaide from November 27, which will also be the first-ever day-night Test played with pink balls.