Brisbane Heat’s Spencer Johnson hasn’t received the green light to return to play as he recovers from a back injury
Brisbane Heat have been dealt a blow 12 days out of the start of their KFC BBL|15 campaign with their strike weapon Spencer Johnson ruled out for the season.
The left-armer has been rehabbing a back injury sustained during the Indian Premier League in April and the club reveled on Wednesday he will not recover in time to play at all during the course of the upcoming Big Bash season.
“Spencer continues to recover from a back injury and pleasingly, this is improving,” Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said in a statement.
“However, the latest timeframe for his return to play does not enable him to participate in the BBL this season. We’re all disappointed for Spencer but will provide him with ongoing support as he continues to recover.”
“He fought back admirably from injury earlier in his career and I have no doubt he will again be dedicated to making a full recovery in the future.”
Johnson, who has 13 international appearances to his name, was initially named in Australia’s squad for their T20 tour of West Indies in July but was ruled out prior to the series when scans revealed a stress fracture in his back.
Chief selector George Bailey said during day one of the second Ashes Test that Johnson was also no longer in the mix for next February’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
“Now’s the time to actually get it right,” Bailey said at the Gabba. “There’s a lot of international cricket from June onwards and we’ll lift his eyes to that as frustrating as it is for him now.”
Johnson, who turns 30 this month, initially expressed his hope in October at recovering in time to feature for the Heat at some point during BBL|15.
Unfortunately, the quick’s recovery hasn’t progress as quickly as he’d hoped and he’ll have to wait until next year to turn out for the Heat, who he holds a contract with until BBL|17.
“I’ve had plenty of expert support from everyone involved in the process and I am very confident that I will be back and doing what I love as soon as possible,” Johnson said.
The club is yet to sign a BBL|15 replacement for Johnson, who was the player of the final in their BBL|13 triumph.
Despite losing Johnson, Heat will still have a left-arm tearaway to take the new ball this season after securing Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi with the first pick of the BBL|15 Draft in June.
The presence of experienced pace duo Xavier Bartlett and Michael Neser in their squad will also help soften the loss of Johnson.
The Heat travel to Geelong to face Melbourne Renegades in their season opener on December 15.
