Johnson can't brush aside retirement thoughts

Like the WACA Ground he loves so much, Mitchell Johnson is contemplating the end. Having already spoken about pondering retirement at the back end of this year's Ashes series, Johnson has made the frank admission that thoughts about finishing his playing career are more or less a constant companion these days.

Ahead of the second Test against New Zealand, which is set to be one of the last major matches played at the storied WACA, Johnson said he was now at a phase of his career where every match might be his last. He also expressed hope about ending his time in the Australian Test team on home shores, a privilege denied to Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers after all five senior men departed during the England tour.

"I think about it most days I think," Johnson said. "It's probably getting to that time, but to be honest I'm just trying to go out there and play each game and enjoy it. Like I've said before, it could be after this game I might just go, I'm done but I'm still enjoying my cricket at the moment and I'm enjoying the challenges.

"It's a really good time for Australian cricket with these young guys in the team and I want to be a part of that. As long as I'm performing well and doing my job in the team then mentally I'm feeling pretty good. I'm not emotional or anything like that now, no, because I'm not retiring. It's always special playing here so it does excite me.

"I started my career in Australia, played my first Test at the Gabba, I think I'd like to finish my career in Australia if I have the choice. It's whether I get that choice or not. Not many people get it, so who knows. I feel like I'm still performing pretty well. I'd like to get a few more wickets but I feel like I haven't dropped off too much. Pace is still up there enough and I feel confident enough in myself."

The talk about retirement is not to say that Johnson has fallen out of love with the game. On the contrary he spoke warmly about his involvement with club cricket and his belief in the importance of maintaining a strong linkage between the grassroots of the game and the commercialised, glamourised top end. If there is anything that seems to have stuck in Johnson's craw recently - evident in his thoughts on the looming day-night Test and other lost traditions - it is the increasing gap between the international arena and earlier, simpler times.

"I enjoyed it, it was a great experience and the guys get a boost out of it, both teams," he said of turning out for Wanneroo Districts at the outset of the summer. "I actually felt a fair bit of pressure on me to perform as I always do when I go back, but I try to go out there and enjoy it as much as I can and mingle with the young guys.

"I stayed afterwards and had a chat with the guys. I love club cricket. At the last game I caught up with my club president from the Wanderers and it was really good to catch up with him and chat about how it all started. I am a firm believer in all that, I think grass roots cricket is so important. I'd love to play more [club] cricket. I actually wanted to play a few more games but it just wasn't possible."

Among the reasons keeping Johnson from his club side is a highly regimented and grooved routine to get him as close to his best for Test matches. At the age of 34, Johnson knows his body very well, and thus realises that a uniquely powerful frame is starting to wind down.

"It's good but it's not as good as ever," Johnson said. "You have your niggles here and there, just like every other fast bowler that's been before me. You have your little issues you have with your body and I'm no different, so it's just about managing those things and I guess I've become pretty good at that over the years. That's part of being a fast bowler is you're going to be sore when you play.

"I really like that feeling of having that soreness - it doesn't probably sound great, but I like that feeling. It feels like I'm doing something out there and pushing my body to its limits. As long as I keep doing that maintenance and looking after myself after each game then I'll be right to play on."

Johnson finished the Gabba Test level with Brett Lee on 310 Test wickets, a mark that was a source of considerable pride for the younger man. He has spoken often of his admiration for Lee and Dennis Lillee, the original WACA tearaway who matured into the most complete of all Australian fast bowlers. His mark of 355 Test wickets is tantalisingly near.

"I was just trying to get past Brett Lee - I'm even with him now," Johnson said. "You never know I could go a few Tests without wickets and that'd be the end of it. It wouldn't be a bad thing, Brett was an idol for me. I remember saying when I first got into really serious cricket that I wanted to bowl as fast as Brett Lee and now I'm level with him. It's pretty awesome.

"Never thought I'd reach that target, especially a few years ago, I wouldn't have even thought about getting close to 300 wickets. Dennis' is a pretty remarkable career he had playing 79 Tests and getting 355 wickets at low 20s. That's pretty awesome and I'm not sure. I'll have a crack but if I get there or not, who knows."