Melbourne, Dec 24 : Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is ready to forgo Indian Premier League (IPL) for the third year in a row.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Mitchell, who is the International Cricket Council's cricketer of the year, would have been one of the most sought-after names at the third IPL auction on Jan 19 had he decided to nominate.

But Johnson's manager Sam Halvorsen said that the fast bowler will put country before cash by ignoring the lure of a six-figure payday in the IPL.

Perth, Dec 17 : Sulieman Benn, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson face suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after having been involved in an on-field altercation on day two of the third Test between Australia and West Indies here Thursday.

The drama began when West Indies spinner Benn and Johnson collided as the Australian set off towards the keeper's end for a single and Benn tried to field the ball off Haddin.

Melbourne, Nov 27 : Leading Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson’s estranged mother has hit back at claims the cricketer has made peace with her, and said she should not be blamed for the Ashes loss.

The Western Australia bowler’s mother has been blamed for his poor performance at the Ashes, following stories in the media quoting her accusing Johnson of disappearing from her life since meeting and falling for glamorous fiancee Jessica Bratich just prior to the Ashes mid-year.

Vikki Harber said she has not spoken to her son since January, although she would love to reconcile with him, The Age reports.

Mumbai, Nov 10 : Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and all-rounder Shane Watson will fly back home ahead of the inconsequential seventh One-Day International against India here Wednesday to take adequate rest and get ready for the gruelling international schedule.

Andrew Hilditch, chief of Australia's national selection panel, said in a statement that after consulting the medical and coaching staff, Cricket Australia (CA) took the decision of sending the two players back home at the earliest.

Nagpur, Oct 26 The Australian cricket team has been hit hard with injuries as strike bowlers Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson are doubtful for the second One-day international against India on Wednesday.

All-rounder James Hopes has already been ruled out of the match after he strained his hamstring during the first match in Vadodara Sunday. Mitchell Johnson also left the field for a while after twisting his ankle and Lee has a sore elbow.

Indian aggressive opener Gautam Gambhir has received the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award from the Indian legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in a glistering ceremony in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The awards were given on the basis of performance of the players between August 2008 and August 2009. Gambhir scored 1,269 runs including five centuries and four half-centuries at the impressive average of 84.60 in the eight test matches he played during these 12 months.

Speaking to the media, Gambhir said that it is just like a dream for him and he feels proud to be a part of Indian team and to contribute in the success of his team.

Johannesburg, Oct 2 : Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who has been announced as the ICC Cricketer of the Year, was stunned with the feat that he has achieved, as he upstaged England captain Andrew Strauss and Indians Gautam Gambhir and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to grab the award.

“I''m really blown away. I''m just surprised to be up here, to be honest,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Johnson, as saying.

London, Aug. 11 : With Australia handing out an innings and 80 run defeat to England to level the Ashes series one-all, a relaxed left arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson revealed Tuesday that his performance in the Leeds Test was a career-saving one.

Johnson said that he feared being dropped and candidly admitted that he had failed to cope with the increased on the field expectations and the tensions related to his mother and his girlfriend.

Birmingham (UK), Aug. 4 : Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has claimed that a more confrontational approach was responsible for a better performance in the just concluded third Test at Edgbaston.

While still below his best, Johnson said he felt he was now taking the game up to England instead of worrying about simply putting the ball into play.

"The whole team wanted to really stand up to these guys and show a bit more intent out there," Johnson said.

Warwickshire (UK), July 29 : Struggling Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is likely to play in the third Ashes Test that gets underway at the Edgbaston cricket ground here from Thursday.

Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke believes that Johnson is back to top form after the visitors won their match against Northamptonshire.

Clarke has also dismissed suggestions that being dropped could be a blessing in disguise for the wayward Johnson, who has struggled with line throughout the first two Tests.

Australian cricket team coach Tim Nielsen declined to admit that Mitchell Johnson had become a liability through the Ashes.

Commenting over the left-arm pace bowler, Nielsen said: "The last two years when we've played some pretty good Test match cricket and Mitchell has been at the forefront of that."

Nielsen said that he would neither confirm nor rule out Johnson for the Edgbaston Test, but did admit that both mental and mechanical factors were contributing to the bowler's decline.

Johnson is expected to play the third Test, after his slump in form in the opening two Tests of the Ashes series.

Melbourne, July 27 : Oz cricketer Mitchell Johnson has called for a truce with his mother, Vikki Harber, after she made scathing comments about his fiancee, Jessica Bratich.

Harber, 45, had earlier said that her close relationship with her son had deteriorated ever since he started going out with his karate champ girlfriend, and now he wants to put it all behind.

"The message I want to say is, hopefully things can work out and be resolved," the Daily Telegraph quoted Johnson as telling Woman's Day.

Melbourne, July 25 : The greatest left-arm pacer of all time, Wasim Akram, has offered to come to the aid of Mitchell Johnson, as the Australian paceman seeks to resurrect his Ashes campaign.

The Pakistani great, who is based in Manchester, has been watching Johnson's struggles, noting the mechanical problems that contributed to the 27-year-old's wayward spells in the second Test at Lord''s.

London, July 21 : Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is expected to be handed one last chance to keep his Test spot by impressing in Australia''s practice match at Northampton starting Friday.

The national set-up is running out of patience before next week''s third Ashes Test in Birmingham following the erratic left-armer''s disastrous efforts with the ball at Lord''s.

London, July 18 : Former England fast-bowler Angus Fraser has claimed that Australian bowling spearhead Mitchell Johnson is low on confidence, struggling for form and out of ideas in his first outing at Lord''s.

London, July 15 (ANI): Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh has said that bowling spearhead Mitchell Johnson would bounce back from his dismal performance in the first Ashes Test to display his talent in the second test match.

"He didn''t play well but he''s been our best player for 18 months. You don''t drop a player after one bad Test match," The Fox Sports quoted Waugh, as saying.

Though Johnson finished with a respectable figure of 5-131, he was unable to stop England''s tailenders from saving the match at Sofia Gardens.

Melbourne, Jul 8 : Aussie cricketer Mitchell Johnson's mum Vikki Harber has lashed out at Cricket Australia for turning its back on parents in favour of flying over "bitchy" girlfriends to the games.

Harber, 45, also said that her once close relationship with her son has deteriorated ever since he started going out with his karate champ girlfriend Jessica Bratich.

"I get a text on Mother's Day and a text on my birthday," the Herald Sun quoted her as saying.

Cardiff (Wales), July 6 : Australia's left arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has said that he intends to maintain the tradition of intimidation and creating fear in the opposition when the Ashes series commences.

England''s batsmen need only ask South African skipper Graeme Smith about the danger of facing Johnson.

During Australia''s 2-1 series victory earlier this year, Johnson produced a terrifying spell on a spicy pitch in Durban, during which he broke Smith''s hand for the second time in three Tests.

Sydney, July 4 : If Australian pace bowler Mitchell Johnson was not spearheading Australia's pace attack, possibilities would have been high that he could have been a pitcher in any major baseball league.

Australian fielding coach and acclaimed baseball mentor Mike Young believes that Johnson had the potential to enjoy an even more successful career as a baseball player.

Sydney, June 26 : Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has promised to maintain his newfound aggression and will be aiming for the badge just above the ribcage England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Johnson's aggression grew with his career-defining performances against South Africa last summer, when he twice broke the hand of Proteas captain Graeme Smith and also wounded Jacques Kallis.

"You aim to intimidate the guy at the other end, and that was definitely my plan in South Africa. I really wanted to get up their batsmen and let them know we were here and seriously trying to win the match and the series.