Johnson targets Trott as he prepares for Ashes return

Johnson and George Bailey were the notable, if anticipated, inclusions in a squad named for the first match of five in Brisbane.

The squad also features all-rounder Shane Watson, who has yet to prove his availability to bowl as well as bat as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

Bailey, uncapped at Test level at the age of 31, has shown remarkable improvement as a limited-overs batsman in the past year and scored especially heavily in Australia’s last two one-day international series, in England and India.

Johnson, overlooked for Australia’s 3-0 Ashes defeat in England last summer, has appeared back to his best in those same series.

His inconsistency has made him the butt of many partisan jokes among Ashes crowds, but he was a match-winner for the hosts in Perth on England’s last tour three years ago.

The left-arm fast bowler also discomfited Jonathan Trott more than once in September’s ODIs in Engand, making especially short work of the No 3 at Old Trafford.

Even before his place in the squad for the Gabba Test was confirmed, Johnson was happy to spell out his intention to again target Trott and England captain Alastair Cook.

Johnson told the Sydney Morning Herald: “I look at the England one-day series and really went hard at a few of those players, in particular Trott.

“I think he’s come out and said he’s not worried about the short ball but we saw what he was like in the one-day series – he definitely didn’t like it. There’s guys in their team we’ll definitely go after.”

At the mention of Cook’s name, he added: “If I can get a few of those rearing balls towards the ribs or those throat balls, and if he gets in the way of it, that’s his own fault.

“You’d rather get the wicket more than anything; you get a lot of joy out of that when you get a player like that out.”

Apart from Johnson and Bailey, the remaining 10 players in Australia’s squad were all part of the team which drew this year’s final Ashes Test at The Oval – bowling all-rounder James Faulkner remaining in contention for his second cap, at the expense perhaps of an extra batsman.

Cricket Australia national selector John Inverarity added: “Mitchell Starc is unavailable due to injury, and he has been replaced by Mitchell Johnson.”

Australia squad for first Ashes Test: MJ Clarke (capt), BJ Haddin, GJ Bailey, JP Faulkner, RJ Harris, MG Johnson, NM Lyon, CJL Rogers, PM Siddle, SPD Smith, DA Warner, SR Watson.