Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson will have just three games to be fit and firing for the World Cup.
Johnson (hamstring) will not be amongst the host of players returning for Monday’s Tri-Series one-day clash against India and will be saved for next week’s final in Perth.
Captain George Bailey (suspension) and David Warner (rested) are assured to make their returns while allrounder Mitch Marsh, spinner Xavier Doherty and paceman Josh Hazlewood are all tipped to make their comebacks.
Johnson has not played since the Boxing Day Test match but bowled strongly during Australian training in Sydney over the weekend.
Bailey said Johnson was raring to go but indicated he will be saved for the Tri-Series final which will be played on a bouncy WACA pitch.
That will give Johnson just that match and Australia’s two warm-up matches – against India at the Adelaide Oval on February 8 and the UAE in Melbourne on February 11 – to be firing for the World Cup.
Despite being without Johnson for the first three one-dayers against India and England, Australia have yet to suffer defeat.
While England took to Australia’s young pace battery in Hobart, they composed themselves at the death and did enough to help Australia to a win with one ball remaining.
Bailey said the fact the side was still winning without some of their established stars boded well for the World Cup.
“What’s really pleasing at the moment, and this is in all formats, is the depth we’ve got and the way guys can seamlessly come in from outside the squad and immediately start performing,” he said.
“I think it just comes down to having really clear plans within that group.”
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