David Johnson
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A brief biography
Manuja Veerappa & Chaithanya Swamy, TNN, June 21, 2024: The Times of India
Born on October 16, 1971, Johnson was from Arsikere in Hassan district. A right fast-medium bowler and right-hand batsman, he represented India in a couple of Test matches in 1996. He was part of Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy-winning teams in 1990s. Laxmi Prasad, deputy commissioner of police (north-east), said, “Johnson fell to his death from the fourth-floor balcony. A case of unnatural death has been registered and investigation is in progress from all possible angles.” The incident happened around 11.30am. No suicide note was found in the house.
Johnson was first noticed at a tennis ball match as a lanky teenager. He made his start for the state with the U-19 team in the Cooch Behar tournament against Kerala in 1990. In less than two years, he made his debut for Karnataka, sharing the new ball with Venkatesh Prasad against Goa.
Prasad said, “It is shocking that Johnson is no more. His was an inspirational jo- urney from tennis ball to leather ball cricket.”
Prasad went on to say, “Although he wasn’t very tall, he had tearaway pace. Very few people could generate the kind of pace he did from his run up. He was lethal on the field. He was also a fierce competitor with an ever-say-die attitude. When he came into the state senior team set-up, our teammates feared facing him. He was a person who never allowed batsmen to dominate him.”
In an era of Javagal Srinath, Prasad, Dodda Ganesh and Mansur Ali Khan, John- son battled hard to stay in the mix. After the Cooch Behar tournament, he was called up to the South Zone team for the Duleep Trophy and India ‘B’ (Challenger Trophy) colours followed. But January 1995 changed the course of Johnson’s career. He first steered Karnataka to victory against Kerala in the inter-state one-dayer and followed it up with a match haul of 10 wickets (10/ 152) at the same venue in the Ranji Trophy contest. It was hard for national selectors to ignore the youngster. In 1996, with Sri- nath down, Johnson was handed his India Test cap — against Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.
Johnson impressed in the 16 overs he bowled, picking up the lone wicket of Michael Slater. A few months later, he went on his first international tour to South Africa. The first Test there also turned out to be the end of his international career. Johnson signed off from his impressive domestic career after the 2001-2002 with 125 wickets in 39 first-class matches and 41 wickets from 22 List A matches.
A few years ago, David Johnson had remarked in jest, “I’m not good at remembering names, but I hope people remember mine.” The 52-year-old left the world with memories of a career which didn’t go the distance and a life off the field that was marked by personal battles.
The former India player fell to his death from the fourth floor of his apartment building near Byrathi in Kothanur police station limits, northeast Bengaluru. Citing preliminary investigations, police said the 53-year-old Johnson appeared to have committed suicide. But his family suspects it was a case of accidental fall.
