Mitchell Johnson may have officially hung up his bowling boots from top-flight cricket in Australia, but the left-armer is still terrorising batters – albeit in an unlikely setting.
The members of ‘Bowling Darts’, a Monday night indoor cricket team in suburban Perth, would have felt their hearts collectively sink last month when Australia’s fourth all-time leading Test wicket-taker rolled in for a game.
Johnson, who will play in the ‘T10’ league over the summer in the UAE instead of the KFC Big Bash League, couldn’t get his side ‘The MBC’ over the line despite an incredible performance with the ball.
Limited to two overs, Johnson finished with the remarkable figures of 7 for -35. Yes, that’s seven wickets for negative 35 runs.
For those not familiar with indoor cricket rules: each side has eight players who bat in pairs for set four-over blocks, innings last 16 overs and each member of the team bowls two overs.
And instead of being dismissed after getting out, the batting team loses five runs, which is how Johnson recorded the impressive figures.
Among his wickets marked on the game’s scoresheet was a stumping, a mode of dismissal he never effected during his 256-game international career across all formats, which suggests he was operating at less than express pace.
The scorecard showing Johnson’s ‘contribution’
All up, the adopted Western Australia’s ‘contribution’ (the ‘C’ on the scoresheet above) was 47. Only one of his teammates, however, managed an overall contribution in the positive, as Johnson’s side were soundly defeated 51-100.
Despite Johnson’s cameos – the competition’s website has recorded him as featuring in three games all up this season – the MBC have struggled with only two wins from 18 games this season.
The 36-year-old confirmed last month that he wouldn’t return to the Perth Scorchers for next summer’s BBL, with the expansion of the tournament to a 14-match home-and-away season playing a part in his decision.
Indoor cricket has played an integral role in numerous star outdoor cricketers’ careers.
Mark and Steve Waugh both played indoor cricket growing up, with the twins representing NSW in the sport, while domestic players including Clive Rose, Jason Floros and Kara Sutherland all played at a high level.
“I think it just helps you hit the ball better and later and watch it more,” Rose told cricket.com.au in 2016.
“The balls swings and bowlers are bowling more variations which makes you aware, I think it definitely helps outdoor.”
Find out more about how you can get amongst the indoor cricket action – visit playcricket.com.au or follow CA Indoor on Facebook or Twitter.
Be the first to comment