Johnson to miss decider against India

Melbourne, Oct 31 (IANS) Mitchell Johnson, the joint highest wicket-taker in the Australia-India ODI series, will miss the seventh and deciding match at Bangalore, Nov 2, to prepare for the Ashes series.

Johnson will leave India Thursday and arrive in Perth Friday.

Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard said Johnson will return to Australia to prep for the longer form cricket as he stakes his claim for selection in the Commonwealth Bank Ashes Series.

“Mitch has performed very well in India, however, we believe it is best for his preparation ahead of a busy summer to have him return home to increase his bowling loads in preparation for the Ashes Test window,” Howard said in a Cricket Australia statement.

Johnson shares the highest wicket-takers spot in the ongoing ODI series with India’s Vinay Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin. The three of them have taken seven wickets each but Johnson has the best average and economy rate.

India and Australia are tied 2-2 in the seven-match series and the decider will be played at the M Chinnaswamy stadium Saturday.