30 September 2014 09:01 am
SYDNEY, (AFP) -Australian coach Darren Lehmann said Sunday fearsome fast bowler on Mitchell Johnson will play in the upcoming Tests and one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
Johnson was withdrawn from the Twenty20 Champions League with a rib injury, but left with the national squad for the UAE on Sunday.
Johnson is the world's leading pace bowler after prominent roles in the recent Test series wins against England and South Africa.
Lehmann allayed fears that Johnson was in any doubt for the first Test against Pakistan, starting in Dubai on October 22. “He'll be fine to go. Expect him to play the one-dayers, obviously not the T20 but the one-dayers and the Test series,” Lehmann told reporters in Melbourne before the team's departure.
“We're lucky enough that in terms of the preparation, he did a fair bit of bowling before (getting injured), so it won't be an issue.” Lehmann was also upbeat that hamstrung captain Michael Clarke will be fit for the opening Test.