![Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/02b23fec-f4c0-48c9-b53d-e4e95702f2dc.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson is kissed by his wife Jessica Bratich-Johnson after winning the Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson is kissed by his wife Jessica Bratich-Johnson after winning the Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/8287a3c9-df17-4b6f-afbf-1bc78c8c6da9.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson and his wife Jessica Bratich-Johnson after winning the Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson and his wife Jessica Bratich-Johnson after winning the Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/f60e39e4-a838-4159-867a-4c12118dfead.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson poses with Michael Clarke after winning the Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson poses with Michael Clarke after winning the Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/7dc879bf-df8c-4fd5-aade-06a116870ed1.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson poses with Allan Border after winning the Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson poses with Allan Border after winning the Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/25965d23-6033-49e2-b31a-f6e0831ce8e5.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/527413f9-15f6-4c26-b58b-54d02d3f414d.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/58846c9e-1f3a-4dc3-a10f-4a3f1f3bee3e.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/7596dd7f-4fac-43bc-93b3-46921505643d.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson poses after winning the Allan Border Medal during the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/f3975347-f5cb-402d-800a-649e779c7b37.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Candice Falzon arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES Candice Falzon arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/e10fe310-727a-4f43-aa7e-fabcb579ca88.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![David Warner and Candice Falzon arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES David Warner and Candice Falzon arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/b9b62ed7-3dc4-4353-87cc-d3621d47ad17.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Jessica Bratich-Johnson arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES Jessica Bratich-Johnson arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/c8b06b75-09df-46fa-9c2a-f4a05de0157f.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson and Jessica Bratich-Johnson arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson and Jessica Bratich-Johnson arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/0bcecdaa-6288-47db-84fd-856969635119.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Mitchell Johnson arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES Mitchell Johnson arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/903de621-729e-46f6-a8cc-a918d11f707b.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Kyly Clarke arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES Kyly Clarke arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/3845bb53-2ac8-44ef-a5f0-1ba05756b3e4.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Michael Clarke and Kyly Clarke arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES Michael Clarke and Kyly Clarke arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/1078649d-0acd-40e2-8fec-d9d5fd168f39.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
MITCHELL Johnson’s return to the elite ranks of the game in this country was formally acknowledged last night when the born-again paceman added Australian cricket’s highest individual honour to his ever growing trophy cabinet.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
In a shock result, Johnson capped off a herculean summer by running down overwhelming pre-poll favourite Michael Clarke with his heroics in the Ashes, denying the captain from claiming what would have been a record-breaking fifth Allan Border Medal.
Clarke began the home Ashes with a commanding lead in the count but Johnson’s 37 wickets at 14 in the Ashes, in which he polled the most votes from players and the media/umpires and won three man-of-the-match awards, catapulted him from sixth to first.
Clarke, however, did not leave the gala ceremony empty handed, winning his fourth Test Player of the Year award and his third in as many years since succeeding Ricky Ponting as skipper in 2011, holding on from a fast-finishing Steve Smith and Chris Rogers.
It was a case of moving from the outhouse to the penthouse for Johnson, who was one of the ‘‘Mohali Four’’ suspended for not doing their homework during the tumultuous series in India.
His career had also been at the crossroads in 2012 after a combination of poor form and serious injury.
‘‘It has been an amazing journey. Coming back from injury and having a lot of doubters I just knew in my own heart that if I had the opportunity again that I could make the most of it,’’ Johnson said.
The paceman finished no higher than third in any of the three international awards but was rewarded for being a part of the national team in every form of the game.
Although it was Johnson’s Ashes form that ultimately secured him his maiden victory in the count, the paceman’s strong performances in the ODI format, particularly in India in October and November, were invaluable.
Clarke played just 12 of 24 ODIs in the voting period as opposed to Johnson’s 19, though the left-armer featured in only six Tests – the format given most prominence by the weighting of votes.
While Clarke missed the India tour due to a back injury, Johnson collected 21 votes, which proved vital given the final margin of 12.
George Bailey, dumped from the Test squad earlier yesterday, received a small consolation prize by beating James Faulkner for the One Day International award.
Aaron Finch was crowned the best Twenty20 player of the year, due entirely to his scores of 156 and 89 against England and India respectively.
![Chris Rogers and Sandra Benarroch arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Chris Rogers and Sandra Benarroch arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/affac45c-6f8f-42ff-a440-bb1a9c400302.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Shaun Marsh and Rebecca O'Donovan arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Shaun Marsh and Rebecca O'Donovan arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/c7e83e17-c5c2-4b46-8cfd-7fc5552fe7d3.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Kayla Dickson arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Kayla Dickson arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/90e8ce74-8247-4502-97ca-987926deabb3.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![James Pattison and Kayla Dickson arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton James Pattison and Kayla Dickson arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/6f68acd3-18cd-4128-897b-7d49352d389b.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Daniel Maxwell and Glenn Maxwell arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Daniel Maxwell and Glenn Maxwell arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/5f3abc96-6746-47e3-8c95-45b37262b4ff.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![James Faulkner, Darren Lehman and Nathan Lyon arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton James Faulkner, Darren Lehman and Nathan Lyon arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/99a836ca-bfd6-4824-9e27-692b1124114d.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Patrick Cummins at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Patrick Cummins at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/fd122602-384f-4807-8451-eff37d35f53b.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Patrick Cummins at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Patrick Cummins at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/7cad74af-e3ef-431c-a394-49e59256a6dd.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Moises Henriques and Rebecca Boston arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Moises Henriques and Rebecca Boston arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/2d2cd980-4464-4bf8-9714-ae438926d13f.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Dan Christian and Krista Thomas arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Dan Christian and Krista Thomas arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/768e824f-1a33-4147-adf0-00977c7e0399.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Lee Watson arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Lee Watson arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/9d24ce47-9bd5-42b7-95c8-31f3ece769d7.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![George Bailey and Dianna Atsalas arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton George Bailey and Dianna Atsalas arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/3cc05594-9c13-4084-8f8b-14bb2f087447.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Shane Watson and Lee Watson arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Shane Watson and Lee Watson arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/cec027a0-adac-4505-a281-70dcecc4b59b.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Nic Maddison and Rebecca McLean arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Nic Maddison and Rebecca McLean arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/83309ad7-ec56-4c9b-a24f-17c0786c6f85.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![David Warner and Candice Falzon arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton David Warner and Candice Falzon arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/e9efdc4b-dcfd-457b-a6bd-a5d11139c7ee.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Adam Voges and Kristy Tuzee arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Adam Voges and Kristy Tuzee arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/9e679397-0f0f-4daf-8d9e-3989a974142b.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Brad Haddin and Karina Haddin arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Brad Haddin and Karina Haddin arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/dcb1c319-f099-4cd4-8c42-8aeac78c93d5.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Xavier Doherty and Emma Doherty arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Xavier Doherty and Emma Doherty arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/658016ec-9eec-4af4-be29-ddc3b3c0ee1a.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Madeline Hay arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Madeline Hay arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/b76d3e73-0893-4283-8d89-d463d1cb843f.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Ashton Agar and Madeline Hay arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Ashton Agar and Madeline Hay arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/d9a5c098-71bd-4b42-bd78-b88f6943bd98.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Nathan Coulter-Nile and Ruby Osman-Mulraney arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Nathan Coulter-Nile and Ruby Osman-Mulraney arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/96f8b04e-4204-49a2-9e68-615ed6c35456.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Clint McKay and Kirsten Tuzee arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Clint McKay and Kirsten Tuzee arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/010a6e7c-445c-4b79-8469-acefc98fec28.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Dianna Atsalas arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Dianna Atsalas arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/5f1d9047-f44f-478b-842b-9039527b1682.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Ryan Harris and Cherie Harris arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Ryan Harris and Cherie Harris arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/c7fefbd9-b5a1-4e0c-9a28-492d38af770e.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Rebecca Boston arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Rebecca Boston arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/f3fd271d-1748-4c23-bc88-edf84549874b.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Steve Smith and Danielle Willis arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Steve Smith and Danielle Willis arrive at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/1b0079b3-54ab-4466-b675-c0d932c0c491.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Danielle Willis arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton Danielle Willis arrives at the 2014 Allan Border Medal on Monday night. Picture: Ben Rushton](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/bd5f450d-be11-402c-8bb8-c633607ef9a2.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)