Brisbane Heat quick Spencer Johnson is in doubt for the upcoming Big Bash League due to injury.
Johnson, 29, sustained a back injury playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL in April.
The left-arm speedster had been selected in Australia’s five-game T20 series against the West Indies in July but was withdrawn.
Further testing and inspection has revealed the back injury is worse than originally thought, with national selector George Bailey confirming a long layoff.
“The latest update for Spencer is that it’ll be sometime in the new year that he’ll start to come back online again,” Bailey said.
“What that looks like and at what point, I don’t think there’s anything definitive on that, still hoping that he can have an impact both domestically and potentially internationally towards the back end of the year.”
The SACA, which is Johnson’s home state in domestic Australian cricket, confirmed to cricket.com.au that he has a bone stress injury in his back.
Johnson took 13 wickets in 7 games for the Heat in BBL|15, with a toe injury interrupting his campaign.
The Heat have since added Pakistani left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi to their attack.
Michael Neser had an interrupted BBL|14 due to injury but he’s opted not to play in the UK during the off-season and should be fully fit this season.
Brisbane also boast Xavier Bartlett and Callum Vidler among their pace options.
