Melbourne, Dec 19 : Australian pace legend Dennis Lillee has hailed the "coming of age" of his young speed protege Mitchell Johnson who took eight South African wickets in the first innings to provide Australia a vital lead at the WACA.

Bowling from the Lillee-Marsh stand end, which his illustrious mentor made famous, Johnson produced one of the most spectacular fast-bowling spells of modern times.

Even Lillee could barely believe his eyes as Johnson turned from a boy to a man with a barely believable spell of 5-2 off 21 balls, the Courier Mail reported.

Perth, Dec. 12 : Former Australian pace great Dennis Lillee once described a teenage Mitchell Johnson as a "once in a generation" bowler, and now seems intent that his young protégé fulfills his ultimate prophecy.

Lillee met Johnson yesterday to discuss tactics for bowling at the WACA Ground, passing on advice and experience from 15 years of bowling on the pace-friendly surface.

"It''s good to have his advice. We just spoke about how things have been going for me at the moment and also just bowling at the WACA,"The Age quoted Johnson, as saying.