Fast bowler Spencer Johnson`s dreams of playing in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) and securing a spot in the T20 World Cup squad are currently dependent on the results of an imminent back scan. The Australian cricketer sustained a stress fracture during the Indian Premier League (IPL), an injury that went undiagnosed until just before Australia`s tour of the Caribbean.
Spencer Johnson hopes to be able to appear for Brisbane Heat this season • Getty Images
Initially, Johnson`s absence from recent T20 International series had sparked some speculation, especially after Mitchell Starc`s retirement from the format. He was sidelined from the Caribbean T20I tour due to a back injury and also missed the T20I and ODI series against South Africa in August. The full extent of his injury, however, wasn`t publicly disclosed until September, when Australia`s chief selector, George Bailey, indicated that Johnson might not return to play until the new year.
Despite this, Johnson, who has represented Australia in five ODIs and eight T20Is, remains optimistic about an earlier return. However, he conveyed his frustration at a BBL kit launch event in Melbourne, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of his recovery.
«My back, honestly, feels fine,» Johnson stated. «Stress fractures are peculiar; they often feel good, but it`s fundamentally a waiting game. I`m scheduled for a scan in the next couple of days, and its outcome will hopefully provide clarity on my return. I anticipate being involved in the Big Bash at some point, whether from the start or progressively through the season. It’s frustrating, but it’s the reality.»
A significant part of his frustration stems from the delayed identification of the injury. Johnson, a late bloomer in professional cricket who has battled various other injuries, had never experienced a back stress fracture before. He initially dismissed the discomfort during the IPL as a disc problem, an issue he had managed previously, and thus didn`t seek an immediate scan as the pain subsided quickly.
«I started experiencing some back discomfort, which wasn`t too severe initially as I was mostly training,» Johnson explained. «Upon returning to Australia, I intensified my preparations for the T20 series in the West Indies. I believe the increased workload aggravated it, leading to a scan that, unfortunately, confirmed a stress fracture. It`s somewhat unusual for a 29-year-old.» He added, «It’s a bit strange because they first thought it was an old, scarred fracture, but recent scans suggest it`s likely a fresher one.»
Spencer Johnson suffered a stress fracture during the IPL • PTI
This injury comes at a particularly inopportune time for the left-arm fast bowler. After missing the 2024 limited-overs tour of England due to another injury, he had made a strong comeback with an outstanding T20I series against Pakistan at home, including his first international five-wicket haul in Sydney. Injuries to Australia`s established pace trio had even opened up an opportunity for Johnson in the Champions Trophy, where he took 2 for 49 in a rain-affected match against Afghanistan.
However, missing four consecutive white-ball series, including ODIs against South Africa and upcoming fixtures against India, creates a challenging path back to the T20 World Cup squad. This challenge is compounded by the strong performances of fellow left-armer Ben Dwarshuis for Australia recently.
«Being injured is never ideal,» Johnson remarked. «Especially this calendar year, with so much white-ball cricket scheduled. Irrespective of my back, I had planned to stay in Australia during winter to ensure this summer was pivotal, hopefully for the national team. Regrettably, it hasn`t unfolded that way. Nevertheless, there`s still plenty of cricket post-Christmas and a T20 World Cup, which I`d absolutely love to be a part of.»
Currently, Johnson is undergoing rehabilitation for his back in Adelaide. His regimen includes diligent pilates and swimming to maintain shoulder mobility and strengthen his core. He is also seeking recovery advice from his Australia and Brisbane Heat teammate, Xavier Bartlett, who has successfully recovered from multiple stress fractures himself.
Upon his return to bowling, Johnson will also focus on remedial work on his action. He plans to collaborate closely with national pace bowling coach Adam Griffith, Brisbane Heat bowling coach Andy Bichel, and South Australia coach Ryan Harris to ensure his technique is sound.
«The advantage of being part of the Brisbane Heat setup, SACA, and even Cricket Australia, is that I`ll be able to lean on all three – Rhino (Ryan Harris), Andy Bichel, and Griff (Adam Griffith) – as everyone is on the same page,» Johnson affirmed. «I have many ideas for my recovery, and keeping everyone aligned while doing much of the work at SACA is my plan. It`s been good to be home for now.»
Spenser Jonsonning BBL va T20 Jahon Kubogi Umidlari Orqa Miya Skaniga Bog`liq
Tezkor bouller Spenser Jonsonning yaqinlashib kelayotgan Big Bash League (BBL) o`yinlarida ishtirok etish va T20 Jahon kubogi tarkibidan joy olish orzulari hozirda uning tezda o`tkaziladigan orqa miya skani natijalariga bog`liq. Avstraliyalik kriketchi Hindiston Premer-Ligasida (IPL) stress sinishi jarohatini olgan edi, ammo bu jarohat Avstraliyaning Karib dengizi turidan oldin rasman tashxis qilinmagan.
Spenser Jonson bu mavsumda Brisbane Heat tarkibida o`ynashga umid qilmoqda • Getty Images
Dastlab, Jonsonning so`nggi T20 Xalqaro seriyalarida ishtirok etmagani, ayniqsa Mitchell Starkning ushbu formatdan ketishidan keyin, ba`zi taxminlarga sabab bo`lgan edi. U orqa miya jarohati tufayli Karib dengizi T20I turidan chetlashtirilgan, shuningdek, avgust oyida Janubiy Afrikaga qarshi T20I va ODI seriyalariga tanlanmagan edi. Biroq, uning jarohatining to`liq ko`lami sentabr oyigacha, ya`ni Avstraliya terma jamoasi saralash qo`mitasi rahbari Jorj Beyli Jonsonning yangi yilgacha o`ynay olmasligini ma`lum qilgunicha aniq aytilmagan edi.
Shunga qaramay, Avstraliya terma jamoasi safida beshta ODI va sakkizta T20I o`ynagan Jonson muddatidan oldinroq maydonga qaytishiga umid qilmoqda. Biroq, u Melburnda bo`lib o`tgan BBL to`plam taqdimot marosimida o`z xafagarchiligini bildirdi va tiklanishining noaniq tabiatini tan oldi.
«Rostini aytsam, orqa miyam yaxshi,» dedi Jonson. «Stress sinishlari o`zgacha jarohatlar; ular ko`pincha yaxshi his qilinadi, ammo bu shunchaki kutish o`yini. Yaqin bir necha kun ichida skandan o`taman va natijasiga qarab, umid qilamanki, maydonga qaytishim aniqlanadi. O`ylashimcha, qandaydir tarzda Big Bashda ishtirok etishim kerak, xoh u boshlanishidan boshlab bo`lsin, xoh mavsum davomida. Bu asabiylashtiruvchi holat, ammo bor gap shu.»
Uning xafagarchiligining katta qismi jarohatning erta aniqlanmaganidan kelib chiqqan. Jonson, kriketga kech kirib kelgan va turli boshqa jarohatlar bilan kurashgan bo`lishiga qaramay, avval hech qachon orqa miya stress sinishini boshidan kechirmagan edi. U dastlab IPL davridagi orqa miya og`rig`ini disk muammosi deb o`ylagan, bu muammoni u ilgari ham boshdan kechirgan edi va og`riq tezda pasaygani sababli darhol skanga tushmagan.
«Orqa miyamda biroz noqulaylik sezishni boshladim, va dastlab u unchalik yomon emas edi, chunki o`sha paytda asosan mashg`ulot o`tkazayotgan edim,» deb tushuntirdi Jonson. «Avstraliyaga qaytganimda, G`arbiy Hindistondagi T20 seriyasiga tayyorlanish uchun yuklamani oshirgan edim. O`ylaymanki, ortgan yuklama uni biroz ko`proq qo`zg`atdi. Va biz skan qildirdik, afsuski, stress sinishi borligi aniqlandi. 29 yoshli sportchi uchun bu biroz noodatiy holat.» U qo`shimcha qildi: «Bu biroz g`alati holat, chunki dastlab ular bu eski, chandiqlangan sinish deb o`ylashgan edi, ammo so`nggi skanlar buning yangiroq sinish bo`lishi ehtimolini ko`rsatmoqda.»
Spenser Jonson IPL davomida stress sinishini boshdan kechirdi • PTI
Bu jarohat chap qo`l tezkor bouller uchun ayniqsa noqulay paytda yuz berdi. 2024-yilgi Angliyaga qarshi cheklangan o`yinlar turini jarohati tufayli o`tkazib yuborganidan so`ng, u uyida Pokistonga qarshi ajoyib T20I seriyasi bilan qaytgan edi, shu jumladan Sidneyda ilk xalqaro besh viket olish natijasini qayd etgan. Avstraliyaning uchta asosiy tezkor boullerining jarohatlari Jonsonga Chempionlar Kubogida o`ynash imkoniyatini bergan va u Afg`onistonga qarshi yomg`irli o`yinda 10 overda 2/49 natijasini ko`rsatgan edi.
Biroq, so`nggi to`rtta oq-sharni seriyasini, jumladan Janubiy Afrikaga qarshi ODI va Hindistonga qarshi yaqinlashib kelayotgan bir kunlik va T20I o`yinlarini o`tkazib yuborish, uni T20 Jahon kubogi tarkibiga qaytish uchun qiyin yo`lga qo`ymoqda. Bu qiyinchilikka yaqinda Avstraliya uchun ajoyib o`yin ko`rsatayotgan boshqa chap qo`l tezkor bouller Ben Dvarxuisning kuchli ijrosi ham qo`shimcha bo`lmoqda.
«Jarohatlanish hech qachon yaxshi holat emas,» dedi Jonson. «Ayniqsa bu kalendar yilida, oq-sharni kriketi juda ko`p. Orqa miyamdan qat`i nazar, men qishda shu yerda qolib, bu yoz Avstraliya uchun muhim bo`lishini ta`minlashni rejalashtirgandim. Afsuski, bunday bo`lmadi. Ammo Rojdestvodan keyin o`ynash uchun hali ko`p kriket va T20 Jahon kubogi bor, men uning bir qismi bo`lishni juda istardim.»
Hozirda Jonson Adelaidada orqa miyasini tiklash bilan shug`ullanmoqda. Uning mashg`ulotlari yelka harakatchanligini saqlash va bel qismini mustahkamlash uchun astoydil pilates va suzishni o`z ichiga oladi. U, shuningdek, bir nechta stress sinishidan muvaffaqiyatli tiklangan Avstraliya va Brisbane Heat jamoasi a`zosi Xaver Bartletdan tiklanish bo`yicha maslahatlar olmoqda.
Boullerlikka qaytganida, Jonson o`z harakatiga tuzatish kiritishga ham e`tibor qaratadi. U milliy tezkor boullerlik murabbiyi Adam Griffit, Heat boullerlik murabbiyi Endi Bichel va Janubiy Avstraliya murabbiyi Rayan Xarris bilan yaqindan hamkorlik qilib, nimalar talab qilinishini aniqlashni rejalashtirmoqda.
«Brisbane Heat tizimining, SACAning va hatto Cricket Australianing bir qismi bo`lishning afzalligi shundaki, men barcha uchalasi – Rayno (Rayan Xarris), Endi Bichel va Griff (Adam Griffit) – bir xil fikrda bo`lishlariga tayanaman,» dedi Jonson. «Tiklanishim bo`yicha ko`p g`oyalarim bor va barchani bir xil fikrda ushlab, SACAda ko`p ishlarni bajarish mening rejam. Hozir uyda bo`lish yoqimli.»
