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New Delhi: Mitchell Johnson will push through the pain of a left-ankle strain to help Australia's injury-hit attack through the seven-game one-day series with India. The contest is level at 1-1 heading into the third fixture in Delhi on Saturday and the tourists have doubts over Brett Lee and James Hopes, while the wicketkeeper Tim Paine is being replaced by Graham Manou after breaking a finger.
Johnson was expected to be ruled out of the loss in Nagpur but recovered quickly and was able to play, taking 3 for 75 off 10 overs. "As a fast bowler you do have little niggles here and there as well," Johnson said in the Herald Sun. "But when I went out to bowl after I'd done it in the first game I was a little nervy, I think my second spell I felt all right, and it was good to get out there. I've rolled ankles before in the past and been able to play, so I guess I was just going on how I felt body wise."
The Australians are currently in an almost non-stop 18 months of action and the injury load is weighing them down. Moises Henriques, the New South Wales allrounder, is with the squad on standby while Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Callum Ferguson and Nathan Bracken are at home recovering from their complaints.
Calls are increasing for a reduction in the workloads of international players, but Australia are faced with almost back-to-back games until their series against Pakistan in England next year. "I'd like a bit more [downtime]," Johnson said. "Obviously the international schedule is pretty intense at the moment and any chance we get to have a little bit of downtime or be home is great."
