12 Jan 2014

Johnson to be rested for first ODI

8:59 am on 12 January 2014

The Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson was rested for Sunday's first one-day international against England to keep him fresh for the rest of the summer.

With the five-match ODI series and next month's tour of South Africa coming up, Australia are rotating a few more players from the Test side who thumped England 5-0 in the just-concluded Ashes series.

Coach Darren Lehmann says it's obviously been a big summer for Johnson so they're just giving him a short little break, making sure he's getting fresh for the other one-dayers as well as the Tests.

The 32-year-old left-arm fast bowler tormented the England batsmen with his searing pace and bounce and picked up 37 wickets in the five-match series.