Australia rest Mitchell Johnson for rest of South Africa series
Monday 17 November 2014 12:27, UK
Australia have decided to rest paceman Mitchell Johnson for the remainder of the one-day series against South Africa.
Johnson, named the ICC's Cricketer of the Year last week for a second time, will miss Wednesday's third ODI with the Proteas in Canberra, as well as the final two games in Melbourne and Sydney.
The selectors want to keep Johnson fresh for the opening Test against India in Brisbane which starts on December 4.
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Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have both been drafted into the squad for the one-day series, which currently stands at 1-1 after South Africa won the second game of the series in Perth on Sunday.
Cummins has not played an ODI since June 2012, but made a successful return in Australia's recent Twenty20 series win over South Africa, while left-armer Starc has overcome a groin injury.
"We have decided to add two extra pace options to the squad with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins," said chief selector Rod Marsh.
"That also gives us the opportunity to ensure Mitchell Johnson is fresh and well prepared ahead of the first Test against India.
"Cummins impressed in his return to Australian duty in the recent T20 Series and Starc has been in good form since his return from the UAE."
Cummins - who has had a number of injuries since he last played for Australia - is delighted to have been given a chance to win a place in the squad for next year's World Cup.
"My body felt great," he said. "I was really pleased with how it went and now I can just concentrate on bowling rather than having to think about how my body is."
Spinner Xavier Doherty has also been added to the squad, while all-rounder James Faulkner will be available for the final two one-dayers after finishing his Sheffield Shield duties with Tasmania.
Skipper Michael Clarke has already been ruled out of the remaining ODIs with a hamstring injury as he fights for fitness ahead of the India Test series.
"We have chosen not to replace Michael Clarke in the squad with another batsman," Marsh said.
"After considering the situation, we believe we have enough batting depth for the next three matches of this series without calling in another player."
Australia coach Darren Lehmann is still hopeful Clarke will be available to face India.
"We'll see how he goes over the next couple of days," he said. "But until we get confirmation I'm not going to say whether he's in or he's out. Only time will tell - for us it's a case of getting him back playing as quick as we can and fully fit. If he's fit, he'll play.
Matthew Wade will continue behind the stumps as regular wicketkeeper Brad Haddin recovers from a shoulder injury.
Squad: George Bailey (capt), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson.
Watch Australia take on South Africa in the third ODI live on Sky Sports 2 at 3.15am on Wednesday.
