Mitchell Johnson Decides to Call his Time on Big Bash League

The former Australian speedster, Mitchell Johnson took a crucial decision of his cricketing career. The lanky bowler has decided not to play this time in the Big Bash League (BBL).

The 36-year old, left-arm pace star decided he will not return to Perth Scorchers for this season. The seamer has confirmed he had featured in last top-flight game for Australia, and his time at the domestic T20 level in the country is all, but done.

However, Mitch will continue to play in T20 domestic cricket across the globe. The primary motive behind this is to earn a call in the T10 format which is scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates.

Johnson has decided to opt against returning to BBL, as the competition switches to a full-and-away season. In this season, 14 matches will take place excluding grand final of the league.

“The intensity and length of the BBL are just too much for someone who will be 37 at the start of the summer,” Johnson’s manager, Sam Halvorsen, told The West Australian newspaper.

“Mitch has put his name up for the Emirates tournament in Dubai, but that is half the length of the BBL.”

Last game for Perth Scorchers

He played his last game for Perth Scorchers at the Optus Stadium last summer. It was eventually a Perth’s defeat to Hobart Hurricanes in the semi-final of the previous summer.

Rather than opting to play inaugural pink ball Test that followed, Mitch decided to take retirement earlier before that. He finished his Test career at WACA playing his last match against New Zealand.

His participation in Indian Premier League

With this move, Mitchell Johnson’s future in the Indian Premier League is also in doubt. As the cash-crunch league also features 14 games excluding the finals of the league.

The lucrative league takes place in April-May. In the IPL 2018, Johnson featured in six games for Kolkata Knight Riders. The franchise bought him for A$388,000, but he just managed to take two wickets in these six games.