Gillespie calls for Australia to rest Johnson

Jason Gillespie has urged Australia to send a second-string side to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and instead keep key players like Mitchell Johnson fresh for the Ashes. The squad heads straight to Dubai after the one-day series in South Africa and the men who face Pakistan will have barely three weeks off before the World Twenty20 begins in England.

The five ODIs and one Twenty20 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are squeezed into a fortnight and there have already been whispers that Michael Hussey could be given a break for those games. But Johnson could be a greater concern given his heavy bowling workload in the Tests and his importance in all three formats.

"I hope they see sense and don't play Mitchell in Dubai," Gillespie told the Advertiser. "If you are asked in 12 months 'who did Australia play in Dubai, and what was the score?', no-one really will know.

"It has been a big Australian summer - you have had the South African series, then there's the World Twenty20 and Ashes coming up. It comes down to workload. We don't want to see him miss the Ashes."

Australia have already taken a cautious approach with Johnson's Test fast-bowling colleagues Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, who were sent home from South Africa after the Tests to put their feet up. Gillespie hopes that break extends to the Pakistan series but he also wants to see senior men like Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke given time off.

"Countries have to prioritise and, unfortunately for that series, it is not going to be a priority," he said. "Selectors could decide it is a series the captain and vice-captain will miss. It can't be that important to anyone except the Pakistan players who have been starved of cricket.

"If you are not taking your captain and vice-captain you are not placing a lot of emphasis on the series and nor should they because they have too much on. I wouldn't be taking anyone like Siddle or Hilfenhaus against Pakistan. Just play a second XI, get the big boys ready for the important stuff. That is just the reality of the situation."

Most of Australia's players have decided to skip the IPL this year to allow themselves the best possible preparation for the long tour of England. Men like Johnson and Ponting, who will be part of the squad for the World Twenty20, the Ashes and the one-day series that follows, are likely to be in England for a full four months from late May.