Mitchell Johnson with the Australian cricket team in the 2013–14 Ashes series

Background

The 2013–14 Ashes was the comeback series for Johnson who had been dropped from the Australia's squad for the 2013 Ashes series in England, the first of the two back-to-back Ashes series that year. Australia had lost that series 3–0, their third consecutive Ashes series defeat.

According to Australian captain Michael Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann, Johnson was recalled to the 12-member squad "partly on the faith that he can demonstrate greater control across the series." Clarke backed Johnson's inclusion in the squad on 12 November 2013 and remarked, "I said a couple of days ago if Mitch was selected in this squad, it wouldn't surprise me if in a couple of months' time you see Mitch being Man of the Series."

First Test

In the first Test at Brisbane, Australia won the toss and elected to bat. Coming in to bat at eight, with the score reading 6/132, Johnson made 64 including six fours and two sixes. He was bowled by Stuart Broad, ending a 114-run seventh-wicket partnership with Brad Haddin. Australia were eventually dismissed for 295 on the morning of the second day.

In England's first innings, Johnson shared the new ball with Ryan Harris, but went wicketless in his first spell. He was introduced into the attack after the dismissal of Alastair Cook when Jonathan Trott arrived at the crease. Johnson's first delivery to Trott was a short ball that struck Trott on the gloves. In the first ball of his next over, the last over before lunch, Johnson dismissed Trott off another short ball as Trott edged the ball to the wicket-keeper. In the second session, Johnson continued bowling short and had Michael Carberry caught in the slips for 40, bowling around the wicket. He struck in his next over as Joe Root edged a full delivery to third slip. Johnson took another wicket in his following over, as Graeme Swann inside-edged a length ball to short leg, and England had collapsed from 2/82 to 8/91. England were bowled out for 138 with Johnson finishing with the best figures among Australian bowlers (4 for 64).

In their second innings, Australia batted positively and declared on 7/401, setting England a target of 561. Johnson contributed with the bat in the second innings as well and scored an unbeaten 45-ball 39. England's runchase started towards the end of the third day in disastrous manner, losing two wickets before stumps. Johnson continued to trouble Trott with short-pitched bowling; ESPNcricinfo described, "Against Johnson, [Trott] looks unbalanced both physically and mentally." Batting on 7, Trott had mishit a hook off bouncer from Johnson but the ball landed safely. However, he was dismissed on 9 when Johnson had him flicking one straight into the hands of Nathan Lyon.

On the fourth day, Johnson broke the third-wicket partnership between Cook and Kevin Pietersen by dismissing the latter with a top-edge to the long leg fielder. Peter Siddle and Lyon then reduced England to 6/146 and exposed England's lower-order to Johnson. Johnson took three of the remaining four wickets. England were bowled out for 179 before stumps on the fourth day, giving Australia a 381-run victory. Johnson finished with figures of 5 for 42 and won the man of the match for his all-round efforts. Towards the end of England's second innings, the Australians had set an attacking field for Johnson, about which ESPNcricinfo wrote in their report, "Every fielder was there for the kill: four slips, a fly slip, two leg slips, silly mid off, short leg."