Lawson calls on Oz to mull about developing 'next scare merchant' as likely Johnson successor

Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson has said that Australia needs to think about developing the next 'scare merchant' in the likelihood of pace sensation Mitchell Johnson getting injured.

Lawson pointed out that although Australia's latest fast-bowling unit is as successful as they have been unchangeable for the previous six Test matches, without Johnson slinging it down around the 150km/h mark, things could be different for them.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Lawson said that players of all specialties love to be in career-best form as it is an 'elusive and ephemeral' state that once entered is not necessarily understood but totally desirable, adding that Johnson's 'support crew'-including Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, do not quite evoke his trepidation.

Although Lawson said that there now is an expectation that Johnson can continue this golden run for a few more years yet, at least past the 2015 Ashes, and then just take it from there, the human body is not keen on being continually placed under maximum stress.

Therefore, Lawson said that Australia needs to think about finding a suitable replacement for Johnson if he gets injured or retires from the game.