Johnson eyes springboard to Ashes

Brisbane Heat and Queensland allrounder Sammy-Jo Johnson hopes to use her maiden Governor-General's XI appearance to press her claims for a ticket to the United Kingdom this Australian winter.

Johnson was one of 12 players named last Wednesday in the GG's XI squad to meet New Zealand in a 50-over game at Drummoyne Oval on February 28, alongside a host of other rising stars.

And with Australia to head to the UK this winter for the multi-format Ashes series, and an Australia A squad to also tour the British Isles this year, it's the perfect chance for the uncapped allrounder to test herself against an international XI and keep herself in the minds of national selectors.

"I'm very excited, I'm looking forward to the opportunity," Johnson told cricket.com.au. "It's a pretty cool spectacle that's been happening for the last few years.

"They've got a cracking team with Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu and Amy Satterthwaite who've all just played in the Big Bash.

"The goal is to chuck on the green-and-gold shirt in the near future, so any opportunity like this is a perfect opportunity to get out there and showcase my skills and hopefully put in a good performance.

"To get to go to India A last year (with Australia A) and to play with the GG's side, it's all an honour and a privilege and it proves if you work hard, it pays off.

"So my goal is to keep working hard no matter what shirt I've got on."

Johnson had a taste of playing in English conditions when she was 17, spending a season in the country's north, and the Queenslander is particularly keen for another chance to let loose with the Dukes ball.

"I do have a little bit of English experience – I had to learn the hard way because I got pumped a bit when I first got over there because I tried to bowl too short," she said.

"If you pitch it up and get the ball swinging over there, it's quite nice conditions for a fast bowler.

Johnson had a breakout summer in the Rebel WBBL and in the 50-over WNCL, helping the Heat take out their first Big Bash title in the process, while she also toured India with Australia A in the lead-up to the season.

It was in the 20-over game where the 26-year-old attracted the most attention, capturing 20 wickets at 17.95 while also striking 260 runs with a strike rate of 139.78 – performances that would surely put her in contention for a place in Australia's T20 squad for the 20-over leg of the Ashes.

"I was sitting down the other day, we'd just gotten home after the WNCL final and I took five minutes to sit back and go, 'it's been a crazy season'," Johnson said.

"I definitely didn't expect it to turn out way it did.

"If someone said at the start of the season I'd be batting at number three for the Heat and opening the bowling, and for us to win the WBBL title and come second in the WNCL, I probably would have laughed.

"But you work your butt off and this season is pretty much what you work your butt off for.

"It's nice to get rewarded for all the hard work. We've got such a good group in Queensland – that's the Fire and the Heat – and to be able to contribute, (that makes me) super happy."

With the domestic summer now done and dusted, Johnson plans to make the most of a short break before launching herself into preseason training.

"I'll use this time to have five minutes' downtime, maybe go on holiday for a week and get back into it," she said.

"I'll use it to get fitter and stronger, I've made some inroads into that in the last 12 months so I want to be improving on that and then whatever happens leading into the first bit of the summer, I'll be ready."

CommBank ODIs v NZ 

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Georgia Wareham

New Zealand squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

February 22: First ODI, WACA Ground, Perth

February 24: Second ODI, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne