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Australia have enhanced their Ashes options while reducing the tourists'
chances of closing out the ODI series against India by choosing to send
Mitchell Johnson home early from the subcontinent, with the intention of aiding his preparation for the first Test against England in Brisbane.
Johnson's early departure from India will allow him the chance to play
in two Sheffield Shield fixtures before the Gabba Test, and one match
before the national selectors name their squad on November 12. "Mitch
has performed very well in India," the team performance manager Pat
Howard said. "However, we believe it is best for his preparation ahead
of a busy summer to have him return home to increase his bowling loads
in preparation for the Ashes Test window."
Though Johnson has impressed consistently in limited-overs fixtures for
Australia in England and India since he missed selection for the last
Ashes bout, it remains to be seen whether he can replicate white-ball
form with the red. The reinstated Test bowling coach Craig McDermott can
be expected to spend plenty of time with Johnson upon his arrival home
from India, working to make sure he has a chance of bowling consistently
well in Brisbane and beyond.
Australia's pace bowling order of preference has been shuffled due to
injuries suffered by James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird,
but there remains some scepticism about Johnson's ability to bowl with
the sustained intensity and accuracy demanded by the diligent approach
of Australia's pacemen in England. To that end, he will now be available
for the Shield match for Western Australia against South Australia at
the WACA ground from November 6.
That match will allow McDermott and the selectors to gauge Johnson's
first-class bowling before finalising the Brisbane squad. If selected,
he will then be able to build further into form against the Redbacks in
the return fixture at Adelaide Oval the week before the Gabba Test.
If Australia's Ashes prospects have been enhanced by a better lead-in
for Johnson, their odds of winning the ODI series in India have now
lengthened appreciably. Johnson has been Australia's most dangerous
bowler across the series by a distance, even during Wednesday night's
rousing Indian chase of 351 to win in Nagpur. Nathan Coulter-Nile can be
expected to come in to the team for the series decider in Bangalore.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here
Feeds: Daniel Brettig
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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