Aus vs Pak 2nd T20I – Spencer Johnson emphasizes full-time role with another SCG special

On By Littum

Spencer Johnson is building some fond memories of the SCG. For his second consecutive outing there, he ran away as player of the match as a career-best 5 for 26 sealed the T20I series against Pakistan.

They were the best figures of one Australia Men’s Quick in T20Ithat moves above James Faulkner’s 5 for 27 also against Pakistan in Mohali in 2016 and follows his title-winning performance in last season’s BBL final against the Sydney Sixers, where he claimed 4 for 26. Throw in 3 for 28 also against the Sixers at the start of 2023 , and he has 12 wickets at 6.66 in T20s at the ground.

“It doesn’t really make any sense to be honest,” Johnson said of his numbers Saturday night. “It’s nice to be back at the SCG. My last time here was the Big Bash final and the conditions were in the bowler’s favour.”

Like that BBL game where he was hit for three boundaries from his four balls before turning things around, it was not an ideal start in front of a crowd of 31,563 as his first ball went for five wides down the leg side and his third was taken first slip.

But Johnson had confidence in himself and in his second over he removed Sahibzada Farhan. Then, when he returned in the 10th over, he set himself on a hat-trick with the wickets of Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha, before making the decisive blow by removing Usman Khan for 52 as he threatened to turn the game back on Pakistan’s manner.

“I’ve played enough T20 cricket to know you can play both good and bad games,” Johnson said. “A lot of time it’s through no fault of your own. You can make mistakes. But I knew tonight I had three overs to come back. I felt the first over in the Big Bash final was a bit under pressure and I thought back on that game and that I still had three overs to contribute to the team.”

Johnson is among a group of Australian quick bowlers fighting for their chances in white-ball cricket when the big three of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are absent, as they are in this series. With that trio having spoken of Test cricket being a priority, there could be a chance of some renewal in Australia’s first-choice T20 attack ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup following their Super Eight exit at this year’s tournament, although Johnson does not expect any quick changes.

“I know the Big Three will be here for a long time,” Johnson said. “They’re not going anywhere, they’re only going to get better. Being able to chip in and be part of the squad a lot more is only going to help me there. They’re incredibly durable and have done it for so long. They’re definitely the benchmark.”

Johnson, who missed the UK white-ball tour in September with a side strain, admitted it remained a challenge for him to back up game after game. He is expected to play the final T20I in Hobart on Monday, which would make it four matches in a row, having also featured in the crucial ODI in Perth, and is eyeing a Sheffield Shield excursion to South Australia before BBL with Brisbane Heat.

“The durability question mark is there for me, and hopefully the more I play, the more durable I become.” he said. “I feel the body is getting there. It has taken its time.”