Skip to content

Australia opt to rest Johnson

Image: Johnson: handed rest

Mitchell Johnson will be rested for the first three matches of Australia's one-day series against Pakistan.

Latest Cricket Stories

Left-armer will sit out start of one-day series with Pakistan

Australia have chosen to rest left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson for the first three games of the five-match one-day series against Pakistan. In Johnson's absence, the fast bowling duties for the first two games will be shared among Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Clint McKay and Shane Watson while Nathan Hauritz is the main spinner. All-rounder James Hopes will play in the first of the two games, in Brisbane on January 22, but selectors have named Adam Voges for the second game in Sydney two days later. With Australia to play one-day series against Pakistan and West Indies in the next six weeks, before touring New Zealand in March and then contesting the ICC World Twenty20, selectors are mindful of keeping strike weapon Johnson as fresh as possible. And selectors have kept faith in the players who have performed for Australia in the past six months in the limited-overs arena. "The NSP (national selection panel) has rewarded those players who have performed so well for Australia in one-day international cricket over the last six months," said NSP chairman Andrew Hilditch.

Impressive

"This period has included impressive series wins in England and India, as well as an ICC Champions Trophy victory in South Africa. "This summer's Commonwealth Bank Series against Pakistan and West Indies is a chance for the team to continue that form as we move towards the ICC World Cup in 12 months' time. "The NSP has selected a different squad for both games to try and provide the best possible coverage for the start of the Commonwealth Bank Series, with squads of 12 players chosen for these two matches. "James Hopes has been selected for the Brisbane match with Adam Voges replacing him for Sydney. This selection has been made with a view to ensuring we have flexibility within the squad of 12 players to accommodate the different conditions at each venue." Australia first ODI squad: R Ponting (capt), M Clarke, D Bollinger, B Haddin (wkt), N Hauritz, J Hopes, M Hussey, S Marsh, C McKay, P Siddle, S Watson, C White Australia second ODI squad: R Ponting (capt), M Clarke, D Bollinger, B Haddin (wkt), N Hauritz, M Hussey, S Marsh, C McKay, P Siddle, A Voges, S Watson, C White

Around Sky