Hamstrung Johnson a doubt for SCG Test

Cricket365
January 4, 2015

Australia could be without premier fast bowler Mitchell Johnson for the fourth Test against India at the SCG, after he missed training on Saturday and also did not sit for the 'Baggy Pink' photo call.

Johnson was not at the SCG for training as he nursed a hamstring injury, and thus did not sit for the now traditional pink-capped photo in honour of Glenn McGrath's cancer foundation.

If Johnson does not play, it is likely that Mitchell Starc will get the call, while Peter Siddle is also in the squad and did not play in the previous two Tests. Australia have already won the series.

Starc, who had been playing in the Big Bash, was confident of doing well if he got asked to play, saying: "It depends on the fitness levels of other blokes and how they pulled up from last week.

"I'll always prepare to play, and I feel like the ball's coming out well from the last two BBL games, I'll keep doing the same and preparing to go. It comes back to any cricket that I play, to keep taking wickets and preparing the best I can.

"The amount of cricket I've played with the white ball means I've got that added confidence in my game and what I want to do whether its in four overs or 10 overs.

"It comes back to playing more red ball cricket and stringing a few games together, which comes back to performing in games as well. I think in those four to 10 overs with the white ball I know my game really well.

"We all adjust differently but with four overs, T20 cricket's done and dusted pretty quickly. It's 24 balls to nail as best you can and I guess I know that side of my game really well and am happy with where that's at.

"It's more coming back to the red ball cricket and getting that consistency I need and that starts with my preparation this week.

"I don't get the red ball in my hands too often these days, but it's still a Kookaburra, so it's still going to swing at the start and hopefully reverse somewhere towards the end. In my game it comes back to my accountability and getting that consistency out of myself."