Spencer Johnson out of UK tour after disastrous The Hundred campaign; replacement named

Australia National Cricket Team has suffered a blow ahead of their series against Scotland and England. Star left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson has been ruled out of the entire tour of the United Kingdom, where the team will be playing T20Is against Scotland and ODIs against England.

Johnson suffered an injury during the ongoing The Hundred 2024. The left-arm pacer experienced a side strain while playing for Oval Invincibles in the league. As he faced an injury, things turned bad to worse for him as it wasn't the great finish for him in the league.

Spencer Johnson didn't have the kind of outing he would've wanted in The Hundred. The left-arm pacer had a poor outing with the ball in the tournament. His best came in the game against Northern Superchargers, where he returned with figures of 1 for 10 from his 20 deliveries and troubled the opposition.

Not having Spencer Johnson for the Scotland and the England tour will be a blow for the Australia National Cricket Team. He has been of the best talents going around in Australian cricket and with Mitchell Starc reaching fag end of his career, he is seen as the replacement for the veteran pacer.

Spencer Johnson has played five T20Is and one ODI since making his debut against South Africa last year for the Australia National Cricket Team. The left-arm pacer made himself a name while playing Big Bash League last year for the Brisbane Heat. Since then he has been with the Australia setup in the white-ball format.

Johnson will now be keen to make his return before the domestic circuit starts in Australia, where he represents South Australia. After the upcoming tour, Australia will be taking on Pakistan in the three-match against Pakistan in mid-November.

Johnson would now be targeting the Pakistan series to make the return. Since the front-line pacers are likely to be rested for the series due to the Test series against India, the young pacer is expected to be there for the team.

Sean Abbott replaces Spencer Johnson in the Australian team for the UK tour

With Spencer Johnson ruled out of the upcoming tour, Australia has named Sean Abbott in the team as his replacement. The fast bowler was only part of the five-match ODI series against England but now will be playing against Scotland as well.

Sean Abbott, who has played 15 T20Is for Australia, is the leading wicket-taker in BBL history with 165. He also has featured in the Hundred where he has taken nine wickets in seven matches for Birmingham Phoenix. He would be keen to continue that form for Australia.

Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis are the other frontline seamers in the T20I squad while Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, and Marcus Stoinis are the all-rounders. Mitchell Starc has been rested from the T20Is against Scotland and England but will be playing ODIs. Pat Cummins will miss the tour while Josh Hazlewood is part of both squads.

Australia's updated squad for the T20I series against Scotland and England

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa