‘Big call’ to drop Johnson: Strauss
England captain Andrew Strauss says Australia made a ‘big call’ dropping strike bowler Mitchell Johnson.
ADELAIDE:
England captain Andrew Strauss said Australia made a ‘big call’ dropping their strike bowler Mitchell Johnson for today’s second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Johnson, Australia’s leading active wicket-taker with 166 wickets in 39 Tests, was left out because captain Ricky Ponting said it was felt he was down on form and out of rhythm after going wicketless for 170 runs in the drawn first Gabba Test.
“Johnson’s been a good performer over a number of years and has been spearheading their attack, so it’s quite a big call for them to leave him out,” said Strauss. “My experience is that lack of stability is not a good thing when you’re not sure what your best eleven is, it means people are concerned about their place in the side. So in that sense it’s a good thing for us.”
Johnson’s absence from the side had been widely anticipated given his out-of-sorts performance in Brisbane and his waywardness with his complicated left-arm slinging bowling action. It was the first question asked of Ponting at his pre-match press conference.
“The selectors felt he was down on a bit of form and down on rhythm, that was probably highlighted in the last game,” said Ponting. “Test match cricket is hard enough as it is without having to try to find those things in the middle of a match.”
Australia have only lost one of their last 12 Adelaide Tests, while England have not won here since 1995.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2010.
England captain Andrew Strauss said Australia made a ‘big call’ dropping their strike bowler Mitchell Johnson for today’s second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Johnson, Australia’s leading active wicket-taker with 166 wickets in 39 Tests, was left out because captain Ricky Ponting said it was felt he was down on form and out of rhythm after going wicketless for 170 runs in the drawn first Gabba Test.
“Johnson’s been a good performer over a number of years and has been spearheading their attack, so it’s quite a big call for them to leave him out,” said Strauss. “My experience is that lack of stability is not a good thing when you’re not sure what your best eleven is, it means people are concerned about their place in the side. So in that sense it’s a good thing for us.”
Johnson’s absence from the side had been widely anticipated given his out-of-sorts performance in Brisbane and his waywardness with his complicated left-arm slinging bowling action. It was the first question asked of Ponting at his pre-match press conference.
“The selectors felt he was down on a bit of form and down on rhythm, that was probably highlighted in the last game,” said Ponting. “Test match cricket is hard enough as it is without having to try to find those things in the middle of a match.”
Australia have only lost one of their last 12 Adelaide Tests, while England have not won here since 1995.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2010.