The following report was in Brisbane's Courier Mail on November 1st 2004.
Mitchell magic is back
Ben Dorries
01 November 2004
QUEENSLAND'S fastest bowler, Mitchell Johnson, has returned to full pace and is targeting a return for the Bulls this season.
The 22-year-old left-arm firebrand, a former Townsville product discovered by Dennis Lillee in 1999, has been hobbled by serious back injuries since he was a teenager and has never been able to break free of his injury curse.
After playing two one-day matches for Queensland last season he was sidelined with another frustrating injury which resulted in the loss of his lucrative Bulls contract.
But Johnson has been bowling with venom in grade cricket this season, confident he is now a lot stronger and can stay injury-free.
He took 3-21 off eight overs yesterday to follow an unbeaten century with the bat on Saturday as his club side Norths romped to a 100-run win over the Sunshine Coast in the final of the local one-day competition at Allan Border Field.
Another fringe Queensland quick, former Zimbabwean Scott Brant, took 5-36 as the Sunshine Coast was bowled out for 123 in reply to Norths' total of 223.
Clinton Perren hit 90 and Brendan Nash 48 to be the mainstays with the bat for the star-studded Norths side which included Bulls skipper Jimmy Maher.
The sight of Johnson in full flight, making batsmen duck and weave, must have gladdened the heart of Bulls coach Terry Oliver who was watching from the grandstand.
Queensland coaching staff have mapped out a steady-as-she-goes program for Johnson.
They want him to survive a heavy schedule of club and second XI cricket before he is picked for the Bulls again.
"I'm a good enough bowler to play for Queensland and I'd love to play some one-day cricket at the top level this season," Johnson said.
"I want to get through the season and not be worried about injuries. I'm a lot stronger than I was and I'm feeling pretty confident."
Queensland quick Ashley Noffke has a finger injury and did not play for the Sunshine Coast yesterday but should be fit for Queensland's ING and Pura Cup matches against South Australia in Adelaide next week.
Test tourist Nathan Hauritz could be a surprise inclusion for the Bulls as it is understood the off-spinner will not be required for the fourth Test against India and could return home this week.
