Australian batting star Travis Head says rookie quick bowler Spencer Johnson can have the identical affect as matchwinner Mitchell Starc as he prepares to play with a new-look T20 crew in South Africa.
Head could possibly be opening the batting with one other rookie, Adelaide Strikers teammate Matt Short, within the opening match in Durban on Thursday morning, with a number of T20 incumbents, together with David Warner, skipping the three-match collection.
Short, Head and the big-hitting Tim David is also referred to as on to bowl spin after Glenn Maxwell was compelled to return house with an ankle damage.
But it’s left-arm fast Johnson, who tore up the Big Bash final summer season and lately produced the all-time bowling figures in The Hundred within the UK, who Head is worked up to see.
With Starc additionally rested from the collection after a mammoth workload within the Ashes, Head stated 27-year-old Johnson might replicate what the veteran had been in a position to do and rattle some South African cages.
“He’s someone who has played really well over the last couple of months and (his Australian call-up) is something that has probably come a little bit quicker than expected,” Head stated from Durban.
“He’s gone through a bit of injury stuff but he’s someone who bowls at high speed and can swing the ball. He’s done it really well at tournaments over the last couple of months.
“His body is good, he’s bowling fast, hopefully he can be that guy for us at the top of the bowling innings, someone similar to Starcy and a matchwinner taking wickets.
“It would be nice to see him get an international experience, have a crack at it and see where he matches up.”
Short is one member of the squad who hits the collection white-ball prepared after coming off a stint in The Hundred in addition to time within the Indian Premier League and having bossed the Big Bash.
Head, who has batted with Short in Adelaide, stated the 27-year-old Victorian was a a lot improved participant.
“He’s continuing to get better and better,” Head stated.
“He’s gone around the world and learned some skillsets and seen it done differently. He’s coming in off some good stuff.”
Head hasn’t performed a T20 for Australia since April final yr, and whereas he stated successful the collection in South Africa was key, making a “good environment” round a bunch that might be collectively for the subsequent two months as they journey to India for the ODI World Cup simply as essential.
“Winning is important but you are not going to win the World Cup in South Africa,” he stated.
“It’s really important we connect well as a group, we look after each other … and we play well. It’s all about timing our run, but we want to win games and play well, making sure the environment is in a good space so when we get to India we can nail down what we want to do.”
AUSTRALIA T20S IN SOUTH AFRICA
August 30: First T20I, Durban (August 31, 2am AEST)
September 1: Second T20I, Durban (September 2, 2am AEST)
September 3: Third T20I, Durban, September 3, 10pm AEST
Originally printed as Travis Head says Spencer Johnson could make an affect like Mitchell Starc
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
