Australian fast bowler battling injury after leaving South African tour early.
Cricket Australia offcials are still hopeful key pace bowler Mitchell Johnson will play some part in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup despite battling injury.
Johnson was sent home early from the limited overs section of Australia’s tour of South Africa as a precaution due to his heavy workload this summer.
However, since then the left-armer has contracted a serious infection in his big toe and looks set to miss the first few games of the tournament, at least.
Johnson was expected to leave his home in Perth on Sunday and join up with the rest of the squad in Bangladesh ahead of the month-long tournament.
“Mitch has been home in Perth recovering from the Test series against South Africa but has developed an infection as a result of a cut he had on his right big toe after the 3rd Test,” Cricket Australia chief medical officer Justin Paolini said.
“He is receiving treatment but his departure to Bangladesh for the ICC World T20 may be delayed until we are happy that the infection has resolved and his toe fully recovered.”
Johnson, who was signed by the Kings Punjab XI franchise for the seventh season of the Indian Premier League, is on anti-biotics to fight the infection.
His injury flared from nasty blisters on his feet and especially his right big toe which is Johnson’s front-landing foot in his explosive delivery stride in one of world cricket’s most feared bowling actions.
The infection has also spread into his right foot, which suffered hefty pounding through five consecutive Tests at home over summer as the big left-armer smashed through England in a historic Ashes whitewash with 37 wickets at a miserly average of only 13.9.
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