Australia's Mitchell Johnson
admits he thought his Ashes struggles would count against him before
being crowned the world's best cricketer of the past year.
Johnson was "blown away" at winning the International Cricket
Council's (ICC) cricketer of the year title, the second Australian
to do so after Ricky Ponting won in both 2006 and 2007.
A panel comprising former players, media and ICC representatives voted
Johnson's achievements ahead of England skipper Andrew Strauss and India's
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir.
Johnson, 27, emerged Australian cricket's hottest
property during the six Tests against South Africa, in which he took
33 wickets including a haul of 8-61, made a maiden Test hundred and
also an unbeaten 96.
He rated it a "great 12 months personally", with a tally of 80
wickets and 632 runs in 17 Tests and 28 wickets in 16 one-dayers.
But he admitted his thoughts of
snaring the major award at an ICC ceremony in Johannesburg on
Thursday night dipped because of his poor start to the Ashes series
in England, which included a howler at Lord's, when he lost his
rhythm and mojo.
"After the Test (player of the year award) one went, I said to Peter
Siddle 'I probably haven't done myself any favours during the Ashes
series'," he said.
"I was just sitting back in my chair just waiting for one of the
other guys to get up.
"I didn't perform to my best in the Ashes, but in the end I still
ended up getting a few (20) wickets and doing a decent enough job
for my country."
The recognition of Australia's new pace attack began in the first
voting category, when paceman Siddle edged out fellow quick Ben
Hilfenhaus to win emerging player of the year, for his 49 wickets
from 12 Tests.
Johnson and batsman Michael Clarke were named in the Test team of
the year, but no Australians earned spots in the one-day side.
