Spencer Johnson has been handed an eleventh-hour opportunity to push his case for T20 World Cup selection, added to Australia’s squad for this week’s bilateral T20 series against New Zealand.
On Sunday afternoon, Cricket Australia confirmed the 28-year-old would replace all-rounder Marcus Stoinis in the 15-player touring party for the three-match campaign in New Zealand. Stoinis was ruled out of the series due to back soreness, which he has been battling since last week’s second T20 against the West Indies in Perth.
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“Stoinis’ injury is expected to recover quickly, although not in time for this series,” CA said in a statement.
Aaron Hardie was initially expected to replace Stoinis in the T20 squad, but the West Australian all-rounder suffered calf tightness while bowling during this week’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart.
“He’s got a tight calf,” West Australian coach Adam Voges told reporters on Sunday.
“It’s more precautionary. He’ll bat if required tomorrow. Hopefully, it’s nothing too significant.”
Johnson, who has represented Australia in four T20s since his international debut last year, claimed 19 wickets at 14.47 during this summer’s triumphant Big Bash League campaign with the Brisbane Heat. The left-armed quick was named player of the BBL final after claiming 4-26 during the 54-run victory over the Sydney Sixers.
After turning heads last year in The Hundred, Johnson was snapped up by the Gujarat Titans for a $1.78m deal at the recent Indian Premier League Auction.
Johnson joins fellow quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Ellis in New Zealand, where he will fight for a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins are locks for the tournament, but there may only be room for one other fast bowler in the touring party.
As a fellow left-armer, Johnson could be considered a like-for-like replacement for Starc, who has not played a T20I for Australia since November 2022. The 34-year-old was dropped for the final match of Australia’s 2022 T20 World Cup campaign on home soil, with Kane Richardson replacing him in the starting XI.
Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade will miss the first T20 against New Zealand for the birth of his third child, with Josh Inglis expected to don the gloves in his absence.
Meanwhile, Matt Short and Ellis returned to the Australian side after missing last week’s West Indies series with a low-grade hamstring complaint and rib injury respectively.
“I was spewing to miss that West Indies series,” Ellis told reporters in Wellington on Sunday.
“For me now it’s time to hit the ground running and put my name forward for the World Cup.
“There’s not a lot of cricket outside of IPL (before) the World Cup after this series.
“Security isn’t there. I don’t think it’s ever there. It still feels like a dream to play for Australia so I just want to relish every opportunity I get.
“The goal is to play a World Cup for Australia so I’ll be doing my best to keep my hat in the ring.”
The first T20 between New Zealand and Australia gets underway at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Wednesday at 5pm AEDT.