Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson believes he simply needs a rest, rather than an appearance in a Sheffield Shield match.

The left arm seamer wants to be properly prepared for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

The reigning ICC Cricketer of the Year was a weary but contented-looking figure as he returned to Perth early this morning, having helped an injury-cursed Australia clinch a memorable one-day international series win over India.

His flight from Dubai may have been delayed by the cyclonic weather pattern that swept across Asia and led to the cancellation of the last tour match in Mumbai.

Johnson was adamant he would prefer to rest a slight ankle injury he picked up in India rather than risk inflaming it by playing for the Warriors for the first time since crossing from Queensland at the end of the 2007-08 summer.

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"It'd be nice to have a little bit of a rest," said Johnson, who's bowled in Australia, South Africa, England and India this year.

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"If it all works out perfectly, I think I'd rather go that way leading up into the Test series."

"No-one wants to miss games, but I definitely don't want to miss Test matches."

Johnson rejected suggestions he needed time to build his form in the game's longer format, despite having struggled to get line and length correct in the recent Ashes series loss to England.

Indeed, Johnson's form was so patchy during the first few Tests his place in the side was under serious threat, although he gradually improved as the series wore on.

This has seen several commentators suggest the 28-year-old should play a warm-up Shield game for WA to ensure he's firing on all cylinders by the time Australia plays the West Indies on November 26 in Brisbane - but Johnson is not quite sure.

"I'm feeling pretty confident if I don't play a warm-up game of going into a Test match (and playing to my best)," he said.

"We bowled 10 overs in a one-day game so you (may) spend a little bit more time out in the field in Test match cricket but I mean, you're not going to lose your fitness and your skills over a short period of time."

Johnson was also confident the against-the-odds series win in India was a major stepping stone for rebuilding the sense of dominance surrounding the Australian team, saying the way second-string players took their opportunities was indicative of significant depth.

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"Going over there with the squad that we had, a few injuries, guys going back, it was a pretty satisfying victory over there in those conditions," he said.

"Playing over in India, it's very tough over there and I think they were pretty confident with the side that they have, they've got a lot of great players."

"(But) I think it's a great step forward for us as well with the talent that we've got coming through as well."