An epitome of demolition: Inside the Ashes inferno that made Mitchell Johnson a legend

Mitchell Johnson celebrating one of his 37 wickets from 2013-14 Ashes [Source: cricket.com.au/YouTube]

The Ashes of 2013-14, or the Australian summer of Mitchell Johnson, if one might call it, was a fiery spectacle of pace and intimidation. Throughout the course of five Tests over a period of a month and a half, the left-arm fast bowler single-handedly dismantled the visiting Englishmen and reignited Australia's dominance in the game's most celebrated bilateral rivalry.

Sporting a menacing moustache that became as iconic as his thunderbolts, Mitchell Johnson picked up 37 of the 100 English wickets that fell in the series at an exceptional bowling average of 13.97, won the 'Player of the Match' award thrice and rightfully bagged the 'Player of the Series' medal as Australia clinched the urn 5-0, only their third such result in Ashes history.

Five Tests, and careers defined by one man’s fury

After suffering three straight Ashes series defeats, and four in the last five since 2005, Australia hosted England in late 2013 for a fresh chapter at a time when their aura of dominance had dimmed and public faith in Australian cricket was wavering.

As the nation waited for a spark to reignite its cricketing pride, it was Mitchell Johnson who lit the fuse and unleashed a storm that would leave England scorched and the Ashes reborn.

A storm brews over Brisbane and Adelaide

The carnage began at the Gabba in Brisbane, where Johnson's ferocity with the ball set the tone for the entire series. He scored over 100 runs and picked up nine wickets in the match, including one to deliver the knockout blow as Australia crushed England by 381 runs.

The follow-up in Adelaide was even more brutal, as Mitchell Johnson unleashed chaos that had Alastair Cook and co. gasping for breath. He picked up 7-40, as England collapsed from 111-3 to 172 all out inside a session. With Australia winning the match by 218 runs, Johnson had two 'Player of the Match' awards and his team a 2-0 lead to show for.

Mitchell Johnson at the Adelaide Oval [Source: cricket.com.au/YouTube]

For a change, Steve Smith hogged the limelight in the third Test at the WACA, but the Australian speed demon still tore through England's middle and lower-order in the decisive innings of the match with a four-fer. Australia’s lead rocketed to 3-0.

Ashes sealed in a storm of fire

Mitchell Johnson returned to his merry ways for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, claiming eight wickets in the match for 88 runs as the speedster's ghost continued to spook the visitors. A 4-0 lead was confirmed, an Ashes whitewash was in the reckoning, all while Johnson celebrated the perks of winning his third 'Player of the Match' award in four Tests.

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Twin three-fers while donning the pink at the SCG in the 2014 New Year's Test, and an eight-wicket match haul for his pace mate Ryan Harris ensured Australia swept the Ashes 5-0, their first in seven years and only third such result in the rivalry's 132-year-old history at the time.

The aftermath of a demolition

The outcome also ensured Australia regained the urn for the first time since Ricky Ponting's pantheons did it in January 2007 with a similar margin.

Mitchell Johnson, meanwhile, fittingly capped off his rampage by being crowned the 'Player of the Series' for his extraordinary tally of 37 wickets and for scoring 165 timely lower-order runs.

In the smouldering aftermath of that Ashes, the toll on several English players like Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott and Graeme Swann, among others, was undeniable. While some illustrious careers ended abruptly in its shadow, that of others faded from the international scene within a year or two.

To sum up the Ashes of 2013-14, Mitchell Johnson's thunderbolts did not just dismantle a team, they dismantled an era.

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