Australian fast bowler Spencer Johnson is anxiously awaiting the results of a crucial back scan this week. The scan will determine if a stress fracture, sustained during the IPL, has healed sufficiently for him to participate in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) and potentially earn a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.
There had been some confusion surrounding Johnson`s absence from Australia`s recent T20I series, especially after Mitchell Starc`s retirement from the format. Initially ruled out of the Caribbean T20I tour with an unspecified back injury, and also missing series against South Africa in August, the full extent of his injury wasn`t clarified until September. At that time, Australian selector George Bailey indicated Johnson was unlikely to play before the new year.
Despite the initial prognosis, Johnson, who has played five ODIs and eight T20Is, remains hopeful for an earlier return. Speaking at a BBL kit launch in Melbourne, he expressed frustration, stating:
“The back, to be honest, feels fine. Stress fractures are one of those things where they feel good, but it`s just a waiting game. I`ve got a scan over the next couple of days, and pending that result, we`ll be able to find out hopefully a return to play there. I think it should be around the Big Bash in some capacity, whether it`s at the start or managed through that. It`s frustrating, but it is what it is.”
Part of Johnson`s frustration stems from the delayed diagnosis. He had never experienced a back stress fracture before and initially dismissed the pain during the IPL as a disc issue, a problem he had dealt with previously, thus not seeking an immediate scan. He elaborated:
“I started to get a bit of back discomfort, and sort of wasn`t too bad, because I was only really training at that stage. And when I got back to Australia, I was trying to build-up for the T20 series in the West Indies. I think just the increased load stirred it up a little bit more. And we got a scan, and unfortunately, there was a stress [fracture] there. A little bit uncommon for a 29-year-old.”
He added:
“It`s a bit of a strange one, because initially they thought it was an old fracture that had just sort of scarred and then I think more recently the more scans we`ve done, they`ve thought it`s probably a fresher one.”
This injury couldn`t have come at a worse time for the left-arm fast bowler. After recovering from an injury that sidelined him for the 2024 limited-overs tour of England, Johnson had made a strong comeback with a superb T20I series at home against Pakistan, including a maiden international five-wicket haul in Sydney. Injuries to Australia`s established fast bowlers had even opened the door for Johnson to play in the Champions Trophy, where he took 2 for 49 in a rained-out match against Afghanistan.
However, missing the last four white-ball series, including ODIs against South Africa, and the upcoming one-dayers and T20Is against India, creates a significant challenge for him to regain a spot in the T20 World Cup squad. This is particularly true given the strong performances of fellow left-armer Ben Dwarshuis in recent times.
Johnson admitted:
“It`s never a great time being injured. Unfortunately, especially this calendar year, there`s plenty of white-ball cricket. Regardless of the back, I was planning on staying here in the winter and making sure this summer was a big one, hopefully for Australia. Unfortunately, it wasn`t to be. But there`s still plenty of cricket to play post-Christmas and a T20 World Cup and something I`d love to be a part of.”
Currently, Johnson is focused on rehabbing his back in Adelaide, engaging in pilates and swimming to maintain shoulder mobility and strengthen his core. He`s also receiving recovery advice from his Australia and Brisbane Heat teammate, Xavier Bartlett, who has successfully returned from multiple stress fractures. Upon his return to bowling, Johnson plans to work with national pace bowling coach Adam Griffith, Heat bowling coach Andy Bichel, and South Australia coach Ryan Harris to refine his action. He stated:
“The beauty of being a part of the Brisbane Heat setup, the SACA, and then even Cricket Australia that I`ll be sort of leaning on all three Rhino, Andy Bichel, and Griff and everyone`s sort of on the same page. I`ve got plenty of ideas of what I want to do and keeping everyone on the same page and doing a lot of the work at the SACA is what I`ll do. It`s been nice to be at home at the minute.”
