Spencer Johnson has replaced Nathan Ellis in the Australia squad for the upcoming 3-match T20I series against the West Indies, starting Friday, February 9.
The Australian team management has given Ellis more time to recover after he sustained a rib injury while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24.
Johnson, in the meantime, has a chance to push for a spot in the national team for the T20 World Cup to be played in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA) later this year.
“It is absolutely a goal,” Johnson had said after Brisbane Heat won the BBL title.
Johnson was impressive in the Heat’s title-winning run, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker with 19 scalps from 11 matches at an economy rate of 7.05.
Johnson also won the Player of the Match award in the final against the Sydney Sixers for figures of 4-0-26-4.
After playing 2 T20Is against South Africa last year, Johnson hasn’t played in the format for Australia. He is also not a part of the team for the series against New Zealand.
Spencer Johnson rises through outstanding BBL stint
From being someone “unknown” with “no real expectation”, Johnson has started to make a mark amongst the big boys.
“The Aussies had great success in India, winning the ODI World Cup, and I didn’t miss a ball of it. Sitting on the couch watching was driving me to return âæ hopefully fit and performing well to be available to get picked next year,” Johnson said.
“Last year I was an unknown and there was no real expectation. The Heat gave me a chance, and I was thrown into those death overs and (Power) Surge overs and that held me in really good stead for this year,” he added.
In 29 T20s thus far, Johnson has taken 35 wickets at an economy rate of 7.44. He also impressed everyone while playing for the Oval Invincibles in the 2023 edition of the Men’s Hundred.
