MITCHELL Johnson has called time on his Big Bash League career, with his manager hinting the extended length of this summer’s edition influenced the fast bowler’s decision.

The eighth edition of the BBL will feature a full home-and-away season, meaning each team will play 14 matches before finals.

“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.

The fourth greatest Test wicket-taker in Australian history, Johnson is hoping to play in the inaugural United Arab Emirates Twenty20 League which only runs for 24 days – the BBL runs 60 days – with each of the five franchises to play eight games.

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

The quick took 20 wickets at 22.75 runs apiece with an economy of 6.14 across his two seasons with the Perth Scorchers and was the team’s best bowler in their title winning BBL 06 campaign. He took 13 wickets at 15.46 that season, leaking only 5.91 runs an over. While he was not as dangerous last summer (seven wickets at 36.28), he was among the tournament’s most economic bowlers (6.35).