Focussed Johnson outlines how he battered England into submission during Ashes

Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson, who won the player-of-the-year award despite playing in only six Test matches in 2013, has outlined in detail how different England players were targeted, resulting in 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

In 2013, Johnson was deemed only good enough to be picked for the Australia A team during the English tour. But now he is on the A-list for different reasons, with a career relaunched by a 5-0 Ashes whitewash, and how it all happened.

Johnson said it all started with Jonathan Trott when he 33 balls to him in three one-dayers in England in 2013 and two innings of the first Test at the Gabba.

Knowing well about Trott's sensitivity around his stress-related illness, Johnson took just 33 balls to expose technique of a batsman who averaged nearly 50 against Australia, Telegraph.co.uk reports.

He said Australians wanted to go after him and it was important they we went at him hard in the first Test.

Johnson said he knew Trott was England's rock, and added that seeing him going home was a huge thing.

He said the next target was Alastair Cook and Australia has always tried to put pressure on the opposition captain because if you can get him early you can get the team.

The sledging between the sides only just stayed on the right side of acceptable and Johnson believes it is about picking your moments and batsmen.

He said Kevin Pietersen enjoys the challenge of someone going at him and that is why in the past Australia has let him go, but sometimes it is hard to contain.

Pietersen realised very early on that his battle with Johnson would shape the series, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Johnson said he was bowling short at Pietersen at the Gabba and he hit a single and said: 'It is either going to be me or you'. I didn't say anything to him. I wanted to keep quiet to him the whole series because I know it gets him going.

Johnson remained focused and bowled to his strength even when Matt Prior launched a second-innings counter-attack to destroy his bowling.