Johnson suffers toe injury ahead of World T20

The Australian cricket team has suffered a massive blow ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup with pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson suffering an infected toe as a result of a cut received during the third Test in South Africa, Cricket Australia (CA) said Thursday.

The infection may mean a late arrival in Bangladesh for the quick, with the Aussies set to kick off their campaign against Pakistan, March 23 in Dhaka.

CA's chief medical officer Justin Paoloni said Johnson has suffered an infection in his right toe.

"Mitch has been home in Perth recovering from the Test series against South Africa but has developed an infection as a result of a cut he had on his right big toe after the third Test," Paolini said.

"He is receiving treatment but his departure to Bangladesh for the ICC World T20 may be delayed until we are happy that the infection has resolved and his toe fully recovered."

Johnson is coming off the summer of a lifetime, taking 59 wickets at an average of just over 15 against England and South Africa. The big left-arm quick played all eight Tests across that period.

In 30 T20I internationals, Johnson has picked up 38 wickets at an average of 21 with an economy of seven runs per over.