Mitchell Marsh, the captain of Australia’s impending limited overs series against South Africa, has conceded that uncapped pacer Spencer Johnson will be given an opportunity to make his debut. Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the ODI squad due to a groin injury, prompting the selection of the left-arm pacer who has impressed in the ongoing edition of The Hundred.
Even though Johnson is not included in Australia’s provisional selection for the 50-over World Cup in India later this year, Australia still has a few weeks to submit its final squad.
Since making his List A debut for South Australia in 2017, Johnson’s entire career has been hampered by injuries. Eventually making his first-class and Twenty20 debuts in 2023, he has only played 4 FC, 6 List A, and 16 Twenty20 games. This season, on his début in The Hundred for the Oval Invincible against the Manchester Originals, he bowled a spell of 20-19-1-3.
“We’ve got an extended squad, we’ve got some young guys coming in which is really exciting, seeing guys like Spencer Johnson, he’ll definitely get a crack,” Marsh said on Tuesday. “We haven’t seen much of him, have we? He’s had a few injuries throughout his career and he’s sort of burst onto the scene last year.
“I remember commentating a game and he was bowling 150kph and swinging them both ways. He’s an incredible talent. I faced him in the one-day final at the WACA and was blown away by his skill and his pace. Think he’s going to feel right at home in international cricket.”
Johnson is one of four uncapped players selected for Australia’s limited-overs tour of South Africa, which begins on August 30 with a three-match Twenty20 International series followed by five One-Day Internationals. Marsh affirmed that Tanveer Sangha and Aaron Hardie, who are members of Australia’s World Cup provisional squad of 18 players, will make their ODI debuts in the series against South Africa.
Due to a stress fracture, the leg-spinner, who was a member of Australia’s T20I squad for the tour of New Zealand in 2021, missed the duration of last season. He is the squad’s third frontline spinner, joining Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar.
Hardie, on the other hand, led the Big Bash League in runs scored during the previous season and was promoted to Australia A.
“Think we’ll definitely get a look at them both at some point throughout the tour,” Marsh said. “It’s really nice to see guys rewarded for performance. Tanveer’s had a few injury problems the last six months but we know what a superb talent he is. Think there’s no doubt we are going to see them in Australian colors over the next few years and we’ll get a look at them in South Africa.
“Tanveer is a very smart young bowler. From what I can gather and what I’ve heard he’s a very good cricketer, just bowls and bowls. A super talent. What we’ve seen in the Big Bash and first-class cricket so far, some kids you know will just be very good bowlers. And he’s one of those. Can’t wait to see him get his chance.”
Marsh has assumed the role of captain after Pat Cummins was given time to recuperate from his injuries. Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc have also been granted recovery time for their respective physical challenges. Marsh, whose batting form has improved across all three formats, is being considered for a full-time captaincy role in white-ball cricket in the immediate future. However, he prefers not to look too far ahead.
“Ultimately, hopefully I’m a good captain, if not I won’t be in the job for very long. That’s okay, I’m just looking forward to the opportunity,” he said. “We’ll get through South Africa and see how we go. I’m available to captain for as long as the team needs me. We’ll see where it all ends.”
Smith injured wrist in Lord’s Test
Steve Smith confessed on Tuesday that he sustained a wrist injury while fielding in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s and continued to play in the final three games of the series.
Smith, who has been ruled out of the forthcoming tour against South Africa, must wear a splint due to a tendon rupture in his left wrist. However, he anticipates being ready for the three-match ODI series against India prior to the World Cup this year.
“I did it at Lord’s. I don’t actually know the moment, it was when we were in the field,” Smith told Fox Cricket. “It wasn’t until that night I was like, ‘geez, what have I done here, it’s a bit sore’.
“I played the next game and then I had a cortisone injection before Old Trafford. I got back to Australia and I was like, It’s still not quite right. I still can’t do a lot of things properly.’
“I had another scan. There was a small tear in the tendon as well as a couple of other things.”
