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For their first eight Vitality Blast games, Surrey has signed fast bowler Spencer Johnson of Australia.
The left-armer, who played for Oval Invincibles last summer, is no stranger to south London despite not making Australia’s T20 World Cup selection. During the Invincibles’ triumphant 2023 season, he claimed five wickets, including an incredible three wickets in twenty deliveries against Manchester Originals. He presently plays for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.
Johnson’s signing coincides with Surrey’s efforts to strengthen their Blast team, which will be shorthanded by four players due to England’s selections for the T20 World Cup: Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, and Reece Topley. They suffered another setback in March when all-rounder Aaron Hardie, an Australian, was pulled after three months to help manage his workload. There can be a maximum of three abroad choices in a squad and two in the starting eleven, and Johnson will join Sean Abbott as an option.
“I’m very excited to join Surrey and I have some fantastic memories from playing at the Kia Oval last year,” Johnson said. “Surrey have a great squad and I can’t wait to contribute with the ball in front of the packed out crowds in south London.”
Alec Stewart, Surrey’s director of men’s cricket, said: “Spencer is a highly talented cricketer who has shown his skills in white-ball cricket at the highest levels. He will add strength to our bowling unit in the first part of the group stages when we have four players away at the World Cup with England.”
After the T20 Blast, he will play Major League Cricket for the LA Knight Riders, and then he will return to The Oval to play for the Invincibles for his Hundred spell. After the English summer, he may be able to add more caps to his six when Australia tours for three Twenty20 Internationals and five One-Day Internationals. Cricket Australia does not have a central contract with Johnson, hence the board has no control over his domestic obligations.