Spencer Johnson ruled out of Australia's Scotland and England tour due to side strain, Sean Abbott named as replacement

Australia have suffered an injury blow ahead of their upcoming T20 series in Scotland and the UK as Spencer Johnson sustained a side strain during the ongoing edition of The Hundred. As a result, right-arm seamer Sean Abbott will replace him for the T20 matches, beginning on September 4 at the Grange Club in Edinburgh.

Johnson, who had announced himself with a sensational spell of 3/1 in 20 deliveries on his The Hundred debut last year, has struggled in this edition. In six matches for the Oval Invincibles, the left-arm seamer has managed only two wickets at 64 apiece. By contrast, Abbott, who is playing for Birmingham Pheonix, has taken nine wickets in seven matches at 18.33.

A statement by Cricket Australia read (as per Fox Cricket):

"(Johnson) will return home for further assessment rehabilitation before the Australian summer."

Johnson's magnificent spell in The Hundred last year meant that the selectors called him up for the limited-overs tour of South Africa. In five T20Is, the 28-year-old has claimed six scalps at 26.66, while he went wicketless in the only ODI he has played.

Mitchell Marsh retained as Australia's T20I captain despite dismal T20 World Cup 2024 campaign

Mitchell Marsh. (image credit: Getty)

Meanwhile, the selectors have placed their faith in Mitchell Marsh to take the team forward despite their woeful T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. While the 2021 champions got through the group-stage undefeated, they suffered a historic loss to Afghanistan in the Super 8s. The loss meant that Marsh and Co. had to beat India to progress to the semi-finals.

A 24-run defeat to the Indians almost sealed their exit from the tournament and Afghanistan's win over Bangladesh made it official.

The Aussies will play three T20Is in Scotland before playing a further three T20Is and five 50-over matches against England. The former will mark the first bilateral T20 series between Australia and Scotland.

The Men in Yellow also have a busy home season, hosting Pakistan and India before heading to Sri Lanka in January 2025.