(Cricket news) It has been over 3 years since Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson retired from all forms of cricket. The left arm bowler celebrated his 40th birthday today and was one of the most dangerous bowlers at his time. Johnson played 256 matches for the Australian side while picking up 590 wickets.

Johnson was one of the fastest bowlers of the side as he bowled upto 156 km/ hour and regularly bowled at the 145 km/ hour range. He was a consistent presence in the team’s test side as he played 73 matches taking 313 wickets while also scoring 2065 runs in addition to 11 half centuries and one century. Johnson is best remembered for his devastating spell in the 2013-2014 Ashes where he took 37 wickets in five matches including three five wicket hauls.

Johnson continued his form in the 2014 season against South Africa where he picked up 12 wickets in the first test at Centurion. He picked up 7 wickets in the first innings in only 11 overs and picked up 5 wickets in the second innings while giving away 59 runs.

Johnson also sported a moustache in the 2013-2014 Ashes series making him even scarier as he is over 6 feet 2 inches tall. His pace and angles made him one of the most efficient pacers in the world. Johnson is only behind Glenn McGrath in most wickets taken by a pacer in all matches combined, Johnson took 113 wickets in the 2009 season as McGrath took 119 in 1999.

In the batting world, Johnson first proved as a batter in 2009 ICC Champions Trophy where he scored 73 runs in 43 balls against West Indies, he was awarded the man of the match as Australia won by 50 runs. Johnson's next batting exploits came when he famously tried to stop the team from losing to South Africa in the third test at Cape Town in 2009. Johnson scored 123* from 103 balls as the team lost by an innings and 20 runs but he was adjudged player of the series for scoring 255 runs and taking 16 wickets in three matches.

Even though his international career spanned 10 years, Johnson also played in the IPL till 2013 and picked up 54 wickets in as many matches. Johnson was also one of the fittest with broad biceps and abs which highlighted his aggressiveness even more. He will be one of the most feared left arm pacers and certainly one of the fastest, to the bowler who scarred many batsmen and inspired many upcoming bowlers around the world.

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