It’s official – the hapless Mitchell Johnson, owner of cricket’s least awe-inspiring moustache, has been dropped for the Adelaide test.
You’d have thought a few English batsmen would have done the decent thing, and got out to him on Monday, just to keep him in the side. But no. Selfish gits.
“I was a little out of form in the last Test, so there’s a bit of work for me to do”, Johnson said today, in one of the great understatements of the series so far. “It’s obviously disappointing but it’s not the end of the world. We still have a lot of Tests to go in this series and I’m going to be working my way back into this team and hopefully play a big part.”
The Australian selectors have not yet announced which of Ryan Harris or Doug Bollinger will take Johnson’s place. From England’s point of view, Bollinger seems the more potent, but is also more of a known quantity. Either way, England score a moral victory for flaying Australia’s spearhead not just out of the attack, but out of the side altogether.
Meanwhile, BBC Online reports rumous that Ajmal Shahzad might replace Stephen Finn in the England XI for the test, which begins at midnight tonight, UK time. The apparent thinking is that Shahzad’s powers of reverse-swing could just tip the balance on what’s expected to be a very flat pitch.
Thoughts?
Shahzad should’ve been in the original squad then! Seems harsh that he has leap frogged Tremlett and Bresnan. However, I rate Shahzad highly and I will be pleased if he get the chance. He’s also just the type of bowler who would be effective in a 5 man attack – but I doubt we’ll go that route. All the batsmen deserve their place atm, except maybe Colly – but Colly has a great record at Adelaide and it would be a brave man to leave him out.
As for Bollinger / Harris, it doesn’t really matter which one plays. Overall however, I would prefer ‘Wiggy’ to play. The few times I’ve seen Harris he has bowled with pace and taken wickets. He is also a better batsman than Bollinger. Furthermore, it’s important that the Aussies keep a left armer in their team, as it will create rough for Swann to aim at when he’s bowling to right handers (he’s much better at bowling to lefties atm).
The has been little comment about the lack of potency of the England attack in Brisbane. We were and are a bowler short. If Swann isn’t firing we will struggle to maintain pressure on the Aussies and more turgid Hussey/Haddin partnerships await. 500 vs 500 in Adelaide, hopefully without the 127 vs 160/4 like 4 years ago.