Who Is Spencer Johnson? The Rising Australia Pacer Who Bowled Cheapest 20-Ball Spell Ever In 'The Hundred'

Spencer Johnson, a rising star from Australia, made an impressive debut for the Oval Invincibles in the ongoing The Hundred cricket tournament this English summer.

In a record-breaking performance, the left-arm quick took three wickets for just one run in their victory over the Manchester Originals. This outstanding display of skill marked the cheapest 20-ball spell ever recorded in The Hundred.

Spencer Johnson shines on The Hundred debut

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Johnson had never set foot on English soil before and only arrived in the country two days prior to the match. He had just played in Canada's Global T20 final before making his way to England.

In an interview with PA news agency, Johnson expressed his disbelief at his incredible performance. "I don't know when it will sink in really, I'm not even sure it will. I'm pretty speechless," he said.

He admitted that he never expected to concede only one run, especially when bowling against renowned players like Jos Buttler and Phil Salt. Reflecting on his feat, he added, "I was trying to remember where the one came from and I couldn't picture it. I'm enjoying it now because it will probably never happen again but was quite cool to be a part of."

Johnson also shared how challenging it was for him as he arrived in England amidst rain and didn't have an opportunity to practice on the pitch beforehand. Nevertheless, playing at the Oval felt amazing for him.

This whirlwind week has brought additional excitement as Johnson received his first call-up by Australia for the upcoming T20 series against South Africa later this month.

Interestingly enough, there was a possibility that Johnson could have been involved in this summer's thrilling Test series against England which ended with a 2-2 draw after captivating cricket fans worldwide for seven weeks.

While representing Los Angeles Knight Riders on another franchise assignment, Cricket Australia informed him that he might be needed for the fourth and fifth Tests due to injuries suffered by left-arm bowler Mitchell Starc. However, Starc managed to play through despite some minor injuries.

"I reckon I watched every ball of that series," Johnson revealed. "I was placed on standby for the last couple of Tests, so I had to be following things pretty closely."

He spoke highly of Starc, stating that he has admired him since his debut and considers him the ultimate athlete. Johnson expressed his desire to be anywhere near Starc and praised his durability, speed, and ability to take crucial wickets.

While Test cricket remains at the forefront of his mind, Johnson is currently focused on performing well in the next six games with the Invincibles before thinking too far ahead.

The Invincibles' next match will be against the Northern Superchargers at Headingley on Friday. Johnson anticipates a tougher challenge from compatriot Matthew Short, who has previously gotten him out a couple of times back in Australia.

"I know I'll go for more than one run next time; it's one of those things that will probably never happen again," he admitted. Acknowledging the unpredictable nature of cricket, he emphasized that if conditions are favourable and he hits the right length, scoring can become difficult for batsmen.

Johnson looks forward to levelling the playing field against Short and continuing to make an impact in The Hundred.

(With Inputs From Agencies)