Mitchell Johnson to miss ODIs against England
Paceman Mitchell Johnson has been ruled out of Australia’s squad for the forthcoming ODI series against England with an elbow complaint.
The strike bowler suffered from an infected elbow during Australia’s World Twenty20 campaign, and the problem has again reared its head.
"It is hoped that he [Johnson] will make a full recovery in time to join the tour and take part in the Twenty20 internationals and the Test series against Pakistan in England, which begin on 5 July,” Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.
Johnson will be replaced in the Australia squad for the series against the old enemy by 19-year-old Josh Hazlewood, who was recently a member of Australia’s victorious Under-19 World Cup squad, where he recorded figures of 4-30 against Pakistan in the final, and who Australia chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said, “has shown great promise in domestic cricket”.
The 6ft 4in youngster has taken 17 wickets in six first-class matches so far for Australian domestic side New South Wales, but selecting a bowler with such limited experience represents a risk for an Australian side that is surely looking to gain some sort of psychological advantage over England ahead of the 2010/11 Ashes series, after their archrivals drew the first blood of the year with victory over Australia in the World Twenty20 final.
Hilditch, however, is confident the right-arm quick is capable of stepping up to the next level.
"The NSP [National Selection Panel] consider he will be well suited to English conditions and this provides a great opportunity for him to be part of the Australian set up on a tour of Ireland and England,” Hilditch said.
"We are sure if he gets an opportunity he will perform very well.”
The replacement of Johnson in the squad is not the first change that has been forced upon Ricky Ponting’s side ahead of the ODIs in England, with Tim Paine already announced as the replacement for injured wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin for the series.
Tags: