Tired Aussies encourage England

Chappell wants Johnson to be dropped.

ADELAIDE: England want to capitalise on the lingering fatigue of Australia’s bowlers, who failed to impress in the drawn Ashes opener, in this week’s second Adelaide Ashes Test, coach Andy Flower said.

According to the England coach, the Adelaide Test would provide the chance to follow it through against their wearied opponents.

“I think in reality, yes, that is the case,” he said. “Obviously there is fatigue for some of the bowlers after long spells. Confidence, or lack thereof, is passed from one match to the next. So yes, there is definitely a connection there.”

The tourists are expecting off-spinner Graeme Swann to be more influential in the Adelaide Test after he claimed just two wickets for 161 off 50 overs in Brisbane. “Historically, the Adelaide Oval pitch turns and does give the spinners a little bit of help so yes of course we expect more.”

Drop misfiring Johnson: Chappell

Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson has lost his confidence and must be dropped for the second Test, said former captain Ian Chappell said. Johnson, 29, went wicketless for 170 runs for the first time in his 39 Tests, made a duck and dropped a catch in Monday’s drawn Gabba opener prompting a call for his axing.

The 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year struggled throughout last year’s Ashes series loss in England too, added Chappell. He said the national selectors had no option but to drop Johnson, because he had shown no ability to counter the patient English batsmen and his bowling had deteriorated as the first Test progressed.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2010.