Johnson retirement appears imminent: Taylor

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor says he wouldn't be surprised if this second Test in Perth is Mitchell Johnson's last.

Johnson said leading into the Test that he was thinking about retirement "most days" and Taylor said such a mindset was a sign that the end is nigh.

The 34-year-old endured a forgettable day with the ball yesterday, as Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson feasted upon some loose deliveries from the left-armer, who finished the day with figures of 1-131 from 24 overs. 

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"Once you start thinking about giving the game away it’s always a worrying sign, because days like Australia have had over the last day and a half, 130-odd overs in the field, they weigh heavily on you," he said before play on day four in his commentary role with Channel Nine.

"You start to think, 'Should I still be playing, I’m now 34, the body’s getting a bit older, I’m getting a bit sorer, do I still really want to do it? '

"That day yesterday would have really tested him.

"The good news is he got the wicket but if this is not his last Test, I think we’re getting really close to seeing the last of Mitchell Johnson, which is a shame because he’s been a terrific bowler for Australia."

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At the end of New Zealand's first innings Johnson had 1-157 - the most runs conceded by an Australia bowler in a Test innings at the WACA - surpassing Mitchell Starc's figures of 6-154 from 2012. 

Johnson has played 15-and-a-half Tests without a five-wicket haul – his last coming in the first Test in South Africa in February 2014 during a golden period for the paceman.

"I think about it most days," Johnson said two days out from the WACA Test. "It is probably getting to be that time, but to be honest I am just trying to play each game and enjoy it like I have said before.

"It could be after this game. I might just go 'I am done', but I'm still enjoying my cricket at the moment and enjoying the challenges."

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Australia's next Test is the historic day-night match in Adelaide, beginning November 27, and while Johnson has been reticent to express exactly how he feels about the use of the pink ball in Test cricket – saying he would refrain from commenting until the match was played – he has expressed his love for the tradition of the game and his subsequent disappointment that such traditions were, in his view, under threat.

"One thing is I love the tradition of Test cricket," Johnson said last month. "Things like the Baggy Green and little things like wearing the woollen jumper – we had an option to change that but we wanted to keep that as a tradition.

"I think tradition in the game is very important."

At 34, it's a testament to his durability that Johnson has already played beyond the age of other outstanding Australian pacemen of recent times in Jason Gillespie (31) and Brett Lee (32), with issues relating to form and injury respectively ending their Test careers.

Glenn McGrath, arguably Australia's greatest-ever quick, retired at 36, while McGrath's rival for that mantle and Johnson's long-time mentor Dennis Lillee pulled up stumps aged 34.