Image courtesy of: The Guardian

“Doug has had significant experience in the sub-continent and in international white ball cricket and his ability to bowl with good pace was a factor in his selection”

Australia left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Johnson has been ruled out of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh after failing to recover from a toe infection.

Johnson sustained a cut on the big toe on his right foot during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, but it failed to heal properly and subsequently got infected.

“Mitchell had a cut on his right big toe after the 3rd Test against South Africa which became infected when he returned home to Australia after the series,” Cricket Australia’s chief medical officer, Dr Justin Paoloni said. “We have given Mitchell as long as we can but unfortunately his infection hasn’t responded to the treatment as quickly as we had hoped with swelling remaining in his toe and foot.

“It is difficult to say how quickly the infection will take to resolve and due to the high risk of infection recurrence with a return to bowling we feel it is in the best interests of Mitchell’s health for him to continue to receive intensive treatment in Perth.”

Doug Bollinger, who has not represented Australia since October 2011, has been called up as a replacement for Johnson and will join the squad as soon as possible.

“This is disappointing news as it was anticipated that Mitch would have a significant impact with his pace and menace,” national selector John Inverarity said. “Doug Bollinger has been called into the squad to replace Mitchell. Doug has had significant experience in the sub-continent and in international white ball cricket and his ability to bowl with good pace was a factor in his selection.”