Brisbane Heat left-arm fast Spencer Johnson has modelled his sport on Mitchell Starc however it’s a textual content he acquired in a second of despair from his idol that has him decided to return to the Australian aspect.
The 27-year-old, who made his T20 and ODI debut for Australia this 12 months, tore his proper hamstring for the second time in three weeks on debut within the one-dayer towards India in Indore in September.
Laying in his resort room that evening and unable to sleep, Johnson was down within the dumps till Starc despatched him a memorable message.
“Starcy gave me my ODI cap and there were some nice words said, but it is what he did after the game that I’ll never forget,” Johnson advised AAP.
“Unfortunately I did my hammie in that game. I was staring at the ceiling at 1am and my phone lights up.
“Sure sufficient it was a message from Starcy saying, ‘nicely carried out. You’ve had a a helluva 12 months. Be happy with what you have carried out and search for the silver lining whenever you get again to Australia and try to get your self proper’.
“To get a message like that was really helpful and pretty cool.
“Starcy is primary. I watched him for the final 12 years and tried to mannequin my sport round him.”
Johnson, who had a breakout BBL debut series last summer where his outstanding late over bowling was a highlight, has heeded Starc’s advice and is confident he will be right to play in the Heat’s BBL opener against Melbourne Stars on Thursday night.
Johnson initially injured the hamstring at training in South Africa after he played in two T20 internationals.
That was a minor grade one tear but the second was more serious.
He said his rehab since returning from India had ticked over 10 weeks, with no stone unturned in his recovery quest.
“We truly had a few PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections the place they take your blood from elsewhere, spin it and inject it straight again into the muscle pressure,” he stated.
“That was painful for a few weeks however the hammie is feeling good now. It needs to be proper to go for the primary BBL sport.”
If Johnson can have another successful series he will put himself right in the frame for the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies next year.
“It is completely a aim. The Aussies had nice success in India, successful the ODI World Cup, and I did not miss a ball of it,” Johnson stated.
“Sitting on the sofa watching was driving me to return…hopefully match and performing nicely to be accessible to get picked subsequent 12 months.
“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 surge overs and that held me in really good stead for this year.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
