mitchell johnson

Born: 02.11.1981
State: Queensland
Tests: 0
Role: Bowler
Bat: Left-hand
Bowl: Left-arm fast-medium
Bat Average: n/a
Bowl Average: n/a

Mitchell Johnson has much to live up to. Not since Brett Lee's emergence a decade ago has their been such excitement about an Australian fast bowler.

When Dennis Lillee first saw a then 17-year-old Johnson bowl in the nets, he knew he'd seen something special, describing the youngster as a "once-in-a-generation bowler".

He was immediately selected for Australia Under-19s, but his progress has been severely hampered by a series of stress injuries to his back.

However in the last two years he has been a consistent performer in the Pura Cup for Queensland, the undoubted highlight taking 10 wickets in the 2005/06 final as the Bulls crushed Victoria by an innings and 354 runs.

Johnson is tall and bowls at lively pace. But it's the fact he's a left-armer that has really got the Aussies excited.

Only two lefties - Alan Davidson and Bruce Reid - have passed 100 Test wickets for Australia, but Johnson should be the next name on that exclusive list if he can stay fit.

He has played a handful of ODIs with mixed results but is yet to play a five-day game for his country. Despite that, Johnson was handed a full central contract in May - just two years after considering quitting the game with another back injury - and is hotly tipped to be thrown into the Ashes series as third seamer behind Lee and Glenn McGrath.