Only fifteen players have taken ten or more wickets in their first Test, and Hines was the first of two West Indians to achieve the feat. The other West Indian bowler was spinner Alf Valentine, who took 11 wickets on debut in 1950; Johnson also played in the match. The West Indies toured India for five Tests in 1948–49, but Johnson was unable to play. Though the West Indies won the series 1–0 it was felt that a fast bowler of Johnson's calibre might have helped the West Indies turn the draws into victories. Johnson played the second and third Tests of his three-match international career during the West Indies' tour of England in 1950. The team's fast bowlers – Johnson, Prior Jones, and Lance Pierre – were expected to be the key to the team's fortunes, but spinners Alf Valentine and Sonny Ramadhin dominated the bowling, taking 59 wickets between them in the four-Test series. Under John Goddard's captaincy the West Indies fielded just one specialist opening bowler in each Test, with Johnson filling this role in the first and third matches, opening the bowling with first Gerry Gomez and then Frank Worrell. Injury prevented Johnson from bowling in the second innings of the first Test, and in the second match he was replaced by Jones. Johnson returned for the third Test, which proved to be the last of his career, shortly after his 40th birthday. The Wisden report for Johnson's debut match recorded that "Johnson, standing 6 feet 3 inches, looked a truly great fast bowler. At no time did he attempt to intimidate the England batsmen by pitching short, but maintained a splendid pace, and by persistently keeping the ball well up the pitch compelled his opponents to make strokes."