Mitchell Johnson's blistering start to the Ashes summer had its foundations in the Indian Premier League back in April, Ricky Ponting says.

The now retired former Test captain was in the Mumbai Indians squad alongside Johnson that won the IPL title in May, although he did not feature in the latter stages of the tournament or the final. His absence from the Mumbai line-up, however, did not stop Ponting witnessing the beginning of Johnson's revival, which has borne fruit for Australia - Johnson was man of the match in the first Test hammering of England at the Gabba.

Resurgence: Mitchell Johnson. Credit:Getty Images

''I spent some time with Mitch playing for Mumbai Indians at the Indian Premier League earlier this year, and some of the opening spells he sent down were remarkable,'' Ponting said in his column for Britain's Daily Mail.

''He looked like a different bowler to the one who has occasionally struggled in Ashes contests in the past. And right now he's got a couple of the England guys exactly where he wants them.''