Injured Johnson out of World Twenty20

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson was ruled out of the ICC World Twenty20 due to an infected toe and has been replaced by Doug Bollinger in the squad.

Johnson suffered a cut on his right big toe after the 3rd Test against South Africa which became infected when he returned home to Australia after the series.

“We have given Mitchell as long as we can but unfortunately his infection hasn't responded to the treatmentas quickly as we had hoped with swelling remaining in his toe and foot," CA Chief Medical Officer, Dr Justin Paoloni said.

"It is difficult to say how quickly the infection will take to resolve and due to the high risk of infection recurrence with a return to bowling we feel it is in the best interests of Mitchell's health for him to continue to receive intensive treatment in Perth," he said.

Johnson will be hugely missed by the Australian who are coming off from a 2-0 win over South Africa in the T20 series.

"Unfortunately Mitchell Johnson has been ruled out of the ICC World Twenty20. This is disappointing news as it was anticipated that Mitch would have a significant impact with his pace and menace," national selector John Inverarity said.

"Doug Bollinger has been called into the squad to replace Mitchell. Doug has had significant experience in the sub-continent and in international white ball cricket and his ability to bowl with good pace was a factor in his selection," he said.

Bollinger has not played for Australia since October 2011, but he was part of the Test squad during the latter part of the home Ashes series.

Earlier, Australia coach Darren Lehmann cast doubt on whether the paceman would be fit enough to travel to Bangladesh.

Johnson, whose quick bowling fired Australia to a 5-0 Ashes sweep and a 2-1 Test series triumph in South Africa over the last few months, has been struggling for fitness after a cut on the big toe on his right foot became infected.

The initial prognosis was that his departure for the March 16-April 6 tournament would only be delayed but clearly Johnson was not making the sort of progress originally envisioned as he received treatment in Perth.

"He's still not great so we'll make a decision in the next couple of days," Lehmann told the Cricket Australia website from South Africa on Sunday.

"If he's not healthy enough to travel, he won't travel. The medicos are all over that back home and here so we'll have to wait a couple of days to see how he responds to antibiotics and all that.

"Health is a bit more important than a game of cricket so, if we have to cover him, we'll cover him."

Johnson is a top quality performer in the shortest form of the game and his absence would be a blow to Australia's hopes of finally snaring the one major international cricket trophy they have never won.

James Pattinson, Ben Cutting and Josh Hazlewood are among the pace bowlers who would be in the frame for a call-up if Johnson is not able to travel.

All-rounder James Faulkner, who missed the Test tour of South Africa because of knee surgery, was another injury doubt but is expected to be fit to play.

Australia open their campaign against Pakistan in Mirpur on March 23.

Image: Mitchell Johnson

Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images