MITCHELL Johnson’s priceless Ashes heroics are set to reap the reborn superstar a multimillion-dollar pay day through lucrative deals on and off the field.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The rejuvenated Johnson, whose hot streak has Australia on the verge of reclaiming the urn, is likely to be given a hefty pay rise by Cricket Australia in the next contract period and will also be high on the wish list of many Indian Premier League franchises.
Johnson’s stocks have risen significantly since he was awarded a central contract in April by CA for the 2013-14 season to the point where only captain Michael Clarke would sit above him on the rankings system used to rate players.
Back then he was on the outer of the Test side and not in selectors’ plans for the Ashes series in England but he is now an integral member of the national team in all three forms of the game.
Only Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and George Bailey feature in the Test, one-day and Twenty20 sides for Australia.
The top handful of players on CA’s contract list stand to earn in excess of $1 million.
Australia has a quiet winter next year, paving the way for Johnson to play the whole of the IPL and thus attract plenty of interest from franchises.
It will help drive his price up from the $300,000 paid by Mumbai Indians last year.
Fairfax Media has been told by one IPL source the 32-year-old could fetch a price tag the equivalent of around the $1 million mark should Mumbai choose not to retain him.
