Australia face the prospect of having to rethink their entire Ashes strategy following the sudden collapse in form of Mitchell Johnson.

The left-armer’s place in the side for the third Ashes Test starting Thursday week in Birmingham must be in grave doubt following his wild showings with the ball at Lord’s.

Considered a key cog in Australia’s Ashes defence, Johnson’s erratic performances have undermined the tourists at the home of cricket.

He had match figures of 3-200 off 38.4 overs heading into day four.

Johnson’s waywardness with the ball has become almost comical at times and he has regularly eased the pressure off England at key moments.

His performances with the new ball have been particularly poor and that has handed England great starts in both innings and control of the second Test.

He should be handed one last chance to prove himself in next week’s three-day practice match in Northampton but on current form, he is far too much of a liability to play at Edgbaston.

It is not like Australia do not have any fast bowling talent beyond the boundary rope with Stuart Clark available and Brett Lee on the mend from a side strain.

Clark seems the safest choice. Sure he is not nearly as threatening a bowler but he has a brilliant Test record and the ability to keep it tight that Australia is crying out for right now.

Ben Hilfenhaus has been the only seamer to really keep England’s batsmen in check in London and England’s middle order remains fragile if it has the necessary pressure placed on it.

Playing No.3 for his country seems too big an ask for Ravi Bopara at the moment and Kevin Pietersen admits his Achilles injury is playing on his mind.

Paul Collingwood is a good batsman but no superstar while wicketkeeper Matt Prior is hit and miss at No.6.

Dropping Johnson doesn’t come without its problems as his batting at No.8 has shored up Australia’s stocks in the last eight months.

Even that wasn’t so hot in the first innings at the home of cricket as he made just four.

Johnson came into the Ashes series with huge expectations placed on him to be Australia’s spearhead following his brilliant showings in South Africa earlier this year.

But something is clearly not right with him.

The mild-mannered ex-Queenslander had a history early in his international career of not always handling the big occasion well and the sight of his mother teeing off at his fiancee in the Australian press couldn’t have helped his mindset.

His former state teammate Nathan Hauritz said it just wasn’t happening for Johnson.

“The ball’s obviously just not landing in the right spot for him at the moment and not coming out of his hand, but that happens to everyone,” Hauritz said.

“I’ve bowled and haven’t landed one.

“That’s something he’ll continue to work on.

“He’s taken on the brunt of the attack over the last six months with the absence of Brett (Lee).

“He’s been a fantastic bowler for us in that time, he’s done exceptionally well.

“Obviously he hasn’t played as well as he would have liked.”

© AAP 2012

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