Mitchell Johnson has been ruled out of the fourth Test against India due to a hamstring injury, as Australia seek to preserve the fitness of their strike bowler ahead of the World Cup and the Ashes series in England.

Johnson didn’t train with the side on Saturday due to hamstring soreness and was scratched from the Australian side early on Sunday morning.

Fellow left-armer Mitchell Starc looms as the probable replacement for Johnson for the fourth and final Test against the Indians starting at the SCG on Tuesday.

After back-to-back Tests and a heavy workload on flatter pitches so far this summer, coach Darren Lehmann said Johnson wasn’t right for Sydney.

“Mitchell is an important part of our plans for the remainder of our summer and we want him 100 per cent right so won’t be taking any risks with him,” Lehmann said.

“We believe it is best for Mitchell to take this opportunity to freshen up and get his body fully fit ahead of the tri-series.”

Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris added: “Mitchell had some right hamstring soreness during the Boxing Day Test and we have been closely monitoring his recovery since that match but feel he has not fully recovered.”

Australia take an unassailable 2-0 lead into the final Test of the best-of-four series.

Starc played in the second Test at the ‘Gabba taking 0-83 and 2-27, but was squeezed out of the side for Ryan Harris’ return in the third Test in Melbourne.