Former Australian tearaway fast bowler Mitchell Johnson was pure box office back in his playing days: somedays he would run through batting line-ups, on other days, he’d get hammered all over the park, but whatever the result, Johnson was one of those rare characters who you- as an opposition fan- would hate to love and vice-versa.

Johnson retired back in 2015 after a celebrated 11-year career where he spearheaded Australia in multiple historic heists including the 2014 Ashes. But, the left-hander continues to rake up headlines courtesy his cheeky banters, and at times, brutal sledges on social media.

Johnson recently posted an Instagram story mocking England’s decision of banning handshakes during the upcoming Sri Lankan tour in the wake of the rising Coronavirus threat, besides taking a jibe at Ben Stokes with reference to his brawl in Bristol back in 2017.

Johnson wrote, “Is this a p*** take? You can jam your fist pump England hahaha just be careful though, Stokesy might react with a sucker punch.”

Ben Stokes rakes up memories of Johnson’s ordeal with the Barmy Army in 2009 and 2010-11

Responding to Johnson’s jibe, Ben Stokes may have just raked up some of the horrible memories that the Aussie fast bowler endured during his career. Johnson feats of Ashes 2014 where he annihilated England with sheer pace and hostility are well documented but before that, the left-arm fast bowler had endured his fair share of forgettable days in Ashes cricket.

It was during the 2009 Ashes in England and the following rubber in 2010-11 that the Barmy Army really got under the skin of Johnson with their song in which they mocked everything ranging from his haircut, his personal life, his bowling, and his attitude.

One of the lines of the song- “Bowls to the left bowls to the right I wonder if big bad Mitch likes Marmite” is what Stokes used to revive some of the horror memories of the past.

Johnson, at the time, was dealing with personal issues involving his mother, Vicky Harber and his then-girlfriend, Jessica Bratch, and has even admitted in his autobiography how the constant sledging by the Barmy Army courtesy the song really got to him.

Bowl’s to the left bowls to the right I wonder if big bad Mitch likes Marmite https://t.co/6HkfJyPlo3

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) March 5, 2020

It will be interesting now as to how Johnson replied to Stokesy’s jibe.