Johnson, who played for Perth Scorchers, will be 37 by the time the 2018-19 BBL commences in December, with each team set to play 14 games for the first time in a full home-and-away season.

Johnson cited this increased intensity as the reason behind his decision. “The intensity and length of the BBL is just too much for someone who will be 37 at the start of the summer," Johnson's manager, Sam Halvorsen, told The West Australian.

Johnson has put his name up for the inaugural United Arab Emirates Twenty20 league, though, and will also be vying for place in the T-10 league to be held in the UAE later this year.

“Mitch has put his name up for the Emirates tournament in Dubai, but that is half the length of the BBL," Halvorsen added.

Johnson picked up 20 wickets from 19 BBL matches

Johnson has 20 wickets from 19 BBL games at an economy rate of 6.15 and best bowling figures of 3/3, which he picked up in the 2016-17 BBL semi-final and played a crucial role in Scorchers' title victory.

He has played 112 T20 matches in all, and has picked up 123 wickets at 25.78. He has also featured for Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

In a distinguished career for Australia, Johnson picked up 313 wickets from 73 Tests, 239 wickets from 153 one-day internationals and 38 wickets from 30 Twenty20 Internationals before hanging up his boots in 2015.

Johnson was also part of the Australia side that won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.