Spencer Johnson could have an opportunity to press his case for a Test debut next summer if the tall speedster proves his fitness during the first half of the Sheffield Shield season.
The 30-year-old claimed record-breaking figures of 2-6 during Sunday’s seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Chattogram, the most economical four-over spell by an Australian in a men’s T20I.
It comes after he spent nearly 12 months on the sidelines with a back stress fracture, which ruled him out of the entire 2025/26 home summer.
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Johnson, a left-armed fast bowler capable of swinging the new ball back into right-handers, has long been touted as a potential successor to Mitchell Starc, serving as his injury replacement during the 2023 Ashes campaign in the United Kingdom.
Although he undeniably has the skillset of a Test cricketer, the injury-prone Johnson has not played any first-class cricket since November 2024, with lingering concerns about his endurance in the red-ball format.
Meanwhile, the likes of Brendan Doggett, Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser have leapfrogged him in the pecking order last summer, while Lance Morris and Sean Abbott remain in the frame for a Test call-up.
However, Australia is about to embark on a gruelling summer headlined by up to 21 Tests across 12 months, during which bowler rotation will no doubt be required. With Starc’s workload expected to be delicately managed across the 2026/27 summer, the door could open for Johnson to make his Test debut should the national selectors want a like-for-like replacement.
But for any chance of earning a coveted baggy green, Johnson will need to prove his body can handle to challenges of red-ball cricket in the Sheffield Shield, which is expected to commence in October.
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Bangladesh v Australia 3rd T20I | 15:43
“It’s been pretty difficult for (Johnson) the last 12 months,” South Australian teammate Doggett said last week.
“He picked up that back injury, and just hasn’t quite been able to fully heal and get his body right, so it would have been a difficult 12 months for him … but he’s kept his motivation high, and nothing’s really changed with him.
“Hopefully we get to see him a bit here for South Australia this season, and I think he’s definitely still keen to play some red-ball cricket, so that’ll be good for us, but I’m really proud of him.”
HOT-AND-COLD RENSHAW’S TEST DREAM STILL ALIVE
Matthew Renshaw has proven he has the potential to become Australia’s next three-format cricketer, provided he can rediscover some consistency over the coming months.
The Queenslander forced his way into Australia’s white-ball sides last summer, impressing during October’s ODI series against India and the T20 World Cup campaign in the subcontinent.
However, after starting the ODI series against Pakistan with scores of 61 and 43, Renshaw initially struggled during the white-ball tour of Bangladesh, posting scores of 2, 0 and 0, along with a tedious 28-ball 18 in the first T20.
The left-hander redeemed himself during Friday’s second T20 in Chattogram, scoring a career-best 89 not out in Australia’s seven-run victory over Bangladesh.
“I think there’s always those doubts around whether you’re good enough, especially when you’re in and out of formats and in and out of teams, so it was nice to realise that I’m good enough at this format,” Renshaw said after the player-of-the-match performance.
“Obviously my international career has been a bit strange around different formats, but I think just being able to be comfortable in my skin, today was a really important innings for me.
“It came just after a run of low scores, just remembering why I wanted to play and how I wanted to play.”
Renshaw guides Aussies to victory | 01:12
Having started his international career as an old-fashioned Test opener, Renshaw has developed into a middle-order navigator in Australia’s white-ball sides, while his part-time off-spin has proven a valuable asset on subcontinent decks. He was the team’s leading wicket-taker during the Bangladesh tour with eight scalps at 18.87.
But he’s yet to nail down a spot in the batting order, trialled at every spot between No. 3 and 7 across the tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh, and when the likes of Travis Head and Cameron Green return to the white-ball set-up, Renshaw is at risk of being squeezed out of the starting XI.
However, with Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Steve Smith each retiring from ODIs last year — and Matt Short unlikely to earn a recall following a disastrous Bangladesh tour — his spot in the national 50-over side could be safe for now.
The 30-year-old’s red-ball form has also been hot and cold, starting last summer’s Sheffield Shield campaign with three centuries for the Bulls before finishing the season with scores of 31, 4, 10 and 29.
Despite being offered a national contract for the 2026/27 season, opener Jake Weatherald is not guaranteed to make Australia’s starting XI for August’s first Test against Bangladesh, while national coach Andrew McDonald floated the possibility of Head returning to the middle order despite his Ashes heroics.
Combined with lingering doubts about Marnus Labuschagne’s form and long-term future, vacancies could emerge in the Test side’s top three for Renshaw next summer. He just needs to unearth some consistency.
Bangladesh v Aus: 2nd T20 Highlights | 15:46
COUNTY WRAP
All-rounder Beau Webster produced an all-round masterclass in the County Championship this week to further press his case for a permanent spot in Australia’s Test starting XI.
During Warwickshire’s ongoing match in Taunton, the tall Tasmanian ripped through Somerset’s middle-order in a damaging spell of 4-23 before cracking 64 with the bat.
The 32-year-old, who missed selection for Australia’s first four Ashes Tests last summer, has averaged 33.58 with the bat and 42.72 with the ball during this season’s County Championship.
Elsewhere, Victorian Fergus O’Neill continued his blistering all-round form in the County Championship, taking a five-wicket haul and scoring a fifty during Nottinghamshire’s innings victory over Essex in Chelmsford.
After smacking a 50-ball 61 in the first innings, the seamer claimed 5-39 from 13.5 overs to help the reigning champions secure top spot on the Division One standings.
O’Neill, one of the Sheffield Shield’s most consistent performers over the last couple of seasons, has averaged 57.00 with the bat and 16.38 with the ball during this year’s County Championship.
New South Wales seamer Sean Abbott claimed 2-58 in the first innings of Surrey’s ongoing match against Glamorgan in Cardiff. The 34-year-old has had a forgettable campaign with the ball in the United Kingdom, taking 12 wickets at 59.41 while contributing two fifties.
Victorian opener Marcus Harris is Lancashire’s leading run-scorer of the County Championship with 535 runs at 48.63, including two hundreds, while West Australian veteran Cameron Bancroft has accumulated 482 runs at 34.42 for Gloucestershire.
Meanwhile, South Australian captain Nathan McSweeney is Northamptonshire’s leading run-scorer of the season with 589 runs at 49.08, including three hundreds, notching an unbeaten half-century during the ongoing match against Durham at Chester-le-Street.
While his red-ball form has been impressive, the right-hander will need to start next summer’s Sheffield Shield strongly for any chance of earning a Test recall.
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