Australia’s cricket team faces a setback as pacer Spencer Johnson has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Scotland and England due to a side injury. The injury occurred while he was playing for The Oval Invincibles in the ongoing tournament, The Hundred. Cricket Australia has promptly named Sean Abbott as Johnson’s replacement in the squad.
Johnson’s Injury and Replacement
Spencer Johnson’s injury comes as a disappointment after he had a mixed performance in The Hundred, where he took only two wickets in six matches. Despite this, he showcased his potential with an impressive spell of 1/10 against Northern Superchargers. Johnson has made a name for himself in the Big Bash League (BBL) with Brisbane Heat and has played five T20 internationals and one ODI since making his debut against South Africa last year.
Sean Abbott, who was initially selected for the five-match ODI series against England, will now step into Johnson’s role for the T20Is. Abbott has 15 T20I appearances to his name and holds the record for the most wickets in BBL history with 165. His recent performances in The Hundred have been notable, as he took nine wickets in seven matches for Birmingham Phoenix.
Squad Changes and Implications
The Australian squad for the T20I series will also see the absence of Mitchell Starc, who has been rested for these matches but will participate in the ODI series. Pat Cummins will miss the entire tour, while Josh Hazlewood remains in both squads. Alongside Abbott, the T20I squad includes seamers Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis, as well as allrounders Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, and Marcus Stoinis.
Selectors are keeping an eye on the next T20 World Cup scheduled in 18 months, and while they have not ruled out Starc or Cummins for the T20 format, their absence opens up opportunities for other players to showcase their skills.
Spencer Johnson’s primary goal now is to recover in time for the start of the Australian domestic season, where he plays for South Australia. Following the UK tour, Australia’s next T20I fixtures are scheduled for mid-November against Pakistan, which could provide Johnson with another chance to feature in the national squad, especially since Test players will be unavailable due to the first Test in Perth.
Australia T20I squad vs Scotland and England: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
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