(CRICINFO) – Mumbai Indians have signed West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith, who played for them in the 2008 season and is due to join the team today, to replace an injured Mitchell Johnson after Cricket Australia ruled the fast bowler out of IPL 2012. Johnson failed to recover in time from surgery on his big toe, which he injured while batting in the second Test against South Africa at Wanderers last November.
Smith was in good batting form in Twenty20 cricket and was the third-highest run-getter in the Caribbean T20 competition, scoring 165 runs at a strike-rate of 136.36. He also represented Khulna Royal Bengals in the Bangladesh Premier League, making 346 runs at 137.30.
Smith played four matches for Mumbai Indians in IPL’s inaugural season in 2008, scoring 45 runs and claiming five wickets and the following season, he moved to Deccan Chargers, where he played eight matches, scoring 215 at an average of 26.87 and took one wicket.
Mumbai Indians, who are third in the points table behind Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders, after they won five matches and lost four this season, have had a few injury problems already this season.
Sachin Tendulkar missed four games with an injured finger while Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga flew home for treatment for a sore back and missed three matches.