Spencer Johnson has taken the BBL by storm with left-arm thunderbolts, but his dream of playing Test cricket remains the final frontier and a quest that drives him onwards.
The sight of Australia quick Mitchell Starc scattering stumps and hitting pads with his own left-arm swingers has the 28-year-old salivating at the prospect of doing the same.
Johnson on Friday inked a new two-year extension with the Brisbane Heat that will keep him at the BBL franchise for the next four seasons.
The 28-year-old Australian ODI and T20 representative took five wickets in his most recent Sheffield Shield game for South Australia, and has his sights set on following in Starc's footsteps in the Test arena.
When Johnson made his ODI debut in 2023 against India in Indore, he was presented with his cap by Starc.
Unfortunately Johnson injured a hamstring in the match, but at 1am the next day he received a text of encouragement from Starc, which inspired him.
"Watching Starcy, I think he is the benchmark.To be anywhere near what he is … that is what I am striving for," Johnson said.
"He has been so durable for so long. I am trying to get some hints about the way he does a few things, and he is always open to replying and giving me a few tips. He sent me a photo of how he straps his ankles and toes. "When you first play the game and you are watching Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist on the screen, that is what you want. You want the Baggy Green.
"With some (good) performances, and if I can get the body right, hopefully it is not too far away.
"I’ve always said I wanted to play the longer form, and got a bit of a taste of it a couple of weeks ago and felt really good. Hopefully I can play a couple of (Shield) games after the Big Bash."
Johnson, who has an Italian passport and heritage, is Ferrari fast and regularly sends down 145km/h missiles.
He was the star of last summer’s BBL with 19 wickets at an average of 14.47, including a match-winning 4-26 in the final against the Sydney Sixers.
The former landscape gardener’s star has been in the ascendant every since. In this year’s IPL he inked a $1.78 million deal with Gujarat Titans, and will join Kolkata Knight Riders next year on a $500,000 contract, not as much as 2024 but still a healthy pay day.
Johnson's 5-26 against Pakistan in November’s T20 series was a prime example of the devastation he can cause.
A toe tendon injury has Johnson in doubt for the Heat's BBL opener against Melbourne Stars on Wednesday.
"It is settling down nicely, and whether I play or not will be up to the selectors," he said.
Johnson said it was "very exciting" to extend his stay at the Heat as he aims for another strong BBL tournament and a spot in the Australian team for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
"If I can perform in the Big Bash games, that stuff (national selection) will look after itself," he said.
