8-61 - 1st inns vs South Africa at WACA Ground, Perth, in Dec 2008.

Was in just his 16th Test, and arrived in Perth with an especially warm reception owing to his recent move to Western Australia, to be with his now-wife Jessica. He had given a hint of his potential by taking 5-39 against New Zealand to start the summer at the Gabba, but it was against the might of South Africa that he truly arrived. While Brett Lee was Australia's top strike-bowler by the end of day two he had a strong challenger after the left-armer took 5-2 from 21 deliveries. The formidable middle-order trio of A.B. de Villiers, Jacques Kallis and J.P. Duminy all fell to catches behind off the bowling of Johnson. What made the haul even more significant was that it was achieved in Perth under the watch of his idol Dennis Lillee, who lauded his achievement. "It's very pleasing to see the coming of age of any fast bowler, and Mitchell on his new home ground stepped up to the mark today to show that he has definitely come of age as a Test bowler."

5-69 - 2nd innings vs England at Headingley, Leeds, in August 2009.

Johnson of Australia celebrates the wicket of Graeme Swann. Photo: Hamish Blair

Johnson had arrived in England on top of the world after dominating with bat and ball in the preceding series in South Africa. By the second Test at Lord's, when his radar went awry and he was brutally punished for that, the tour that was hoped to be the making of him was almost the breaking of him. His on-field frailties - his self-confidence was, at that stage, easily shaken - exacerbated when the English crowds discovered how susceptible he was to barracking. Some of it was fair game, about his lack of accuracy, but when it extended to his strained relationship with his mother it rattled him badly. He began the fourth Test with more of the same, yet instead of being cowered by the barracking he rose above it. He took 3-1 from 14 deliveries at the end of day two to cement Australia's dominant position in the match. For all the talk of how the 2009 Ashes was a disaster for Johnson, his Headingley haul is unfairly overlooked.

6-38 - 1st innings vs England at WACA Ground, Perth, in December 2010.

Johnson celebrates the wicket of Chris Tremlett. Photo: Getty Images

This was one of the greatest tests of Johnson's mental strength. He arrived at the Gabba with expectations he would prove his underwhelming form in England was a blip, yet proceeded to concede 170 runs in 42 wicketless over. The performance saw him dropped for the next Test, with an instruction to go back to the nets on work on raising the bowling arm that had got low in his delivery stride. England supporters chortled when he was recalled for Perth. At 0-78 in the first innings, in response to Australia's 268, all was heading the way of the visitors. Australia then roared back into contention to win the series on the back of Johnson's 4-7 off 27 deliveries. While he was fast - as per usual - even more significant is that he was able to swing the ball, for which England's batsmen had no answer. He was so dominant that at one stage captain Ricky Ponting had no fielders in front of square on either side when he was bowling to Ian Bell.

7-40 - 1st innings vs England at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, in December 2013.

Johnson bowls Alastair Cook. Photo: Getty Images

In Australia's previous home Ashes series, in 2010-11, the Johnson sceptics were mainly confined to the Barmy Army. This time they extended to Australia's own supporters, with the left-armer having not played Tests for a year, having been injured late in a series away to South Africa in which he had been ineffective with the ball and on track to being dropped. Johnson was not considered for the winter Ashes series but his ferocious bowling in the one-day series that followed convinced selectors he could make the difference. While he claimed nine wickets in his comeback Test the contrarians insisted it was just because of a helpful Gabba pitch, and that he would fall to earth hard in Adelaide, where batsmen typically rule. From 4-117 the visitors were skittled for 172. Johnson smashed the middle-order and tail in taking 6-16 from 26 deliveries. After this innings it was impossible to question Johnson: he was undoubtedly and emphatically back as one of the most threatening pacemen in the world.

7-68 - 1st inns vs South Africa at Centurion Park, Centurion, in February 2014.

Johnson claims the wicket of Graeme Smith with a brutal delivery. Photo: Getty Images

After regaining the Ashes the Australians faced an even bigger challenge of winning in South Africa. Their battle began at Centurion Park, a venue where the Proteas boasted an even more formidable record than Australia at the Gabba. While the home team boasted Dale Steyn, widely acknowledged as the best fast-bowler in the world, the threat he posed on a lively pitch was nothing to that of Johnson. The left-armer made a big statement by bouncing out their captain, Graeme Smith, in the first over. When his partner Alviro Petersen followed soon after, to what looked from an outsider as a meek delivery, his shot was explained on Twitter by Kevin Pietersen: "When you [are] facing someone as quick as Mitchell, your instinct occasionally makes you do things you shouldn't. PACE causes indecision! There is a HUGE difference when facing someone at 140km/h compared to 150km/h!". Johnson was even more brutal in the second innings: Hashim Amla was struck in the helmet from his first delivery, which reared sharply off a good length, while Ryan McLaren's was left bloodied and concussed by a blow to his helmet so heavy the thud was clearly heard at the other end of the ground. In the duel of the fast-bowling titans, Steyn and Johnson, the latter finished the match - and the series - clearly on top.