Injury doubts surrounding Mitchell Johnson’s Ashes availability have been allayed, with the fast bowler training strongly in Nagpur on Monday.
Fears were raised after it was announced during commentary of Sunday’s domestic one-day final between NSW and Queensland on Sunday that the former Bulls paceman had picked up a side strain in India which would put him in doubt for the Ashes.
But Johnson completed a long fieldwork session on Monday morning before bowling strongly in the nets, erasing any concerns he was in doubt for game six of the one-day series on Wednesday.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed Johnson was available for selection in the potentially series-deciding clash.
Australia leads the best-of-seven series 2-1, but following washouts in Ranchi and Cuttack the tourists need just one more victory to seal the series.
Johnson is Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the India series with five and has looked menacing, regularly clocking over 150km/h while intimidating the Indian middle-order with accurate short balls.
His form in India, following on from a successful ODI tour of England, have drawn praise from Test champions Glenn McGrath and Michael Hussey – and have him in line for selection for the Ashes-opening Gabba Test on November 21.
Australia will already be without injured foursome James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird and Pat Cummins for the start of the Ashes.
All have back injuries, with Pattinson and Bird expected to be fit for the later Tests.
Australia’s squad for the first Test will be picked on November 12.