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Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has made the surprising claim that out of sorts paceman Mitchell Johnson’s form wasn’t “too much of a concern” before this week’s third Ashes Test.
His comments followed Johnson’s confidence-deflating performance in taking 1-107 off 18.1 overs against an understrength Northamptonshire and wayward effort in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
Haddin, who sat out last weekend’s tour match in Northampton, maintained the left-armer was still collecting wickets ahead of the crucial Edgbaston clash starting Thursday.
“He is still taking a lot wickets as much as has been written about him not performing,” Haddin said.
“And he bowled great in the tour game.
“I don’t think it is too much of a concern really.”
Johnson has been leaking far too many runs on tour and his inability to maintain pressure is undermining the entire Australian attack.
The problem for the Australian team’s powerbrokers is the damage that dropping Johnson could do to his confidence at the top level.
Haddin said Johnson’s attitude had not been any different on tour despite his body language telling a different story on and off the field in England.
“His form is not as big a concern as everyone is making it out to be,” he said.
“He is still taking wickets and it has been no different.
“He has been the same around the group as he was in South Africa and in Australia has been no different.
“It is no different to usual we don’t have to encourage him any more or any less.”
Australia held an optional training session at Edgbaston on Monday before ramping up their preparations for the Birmingham clash on Tuesday.
The tourists have some interesting selection matters to settle before Thursday with 14 players in contention for the match with only Brett Lee and back-up wicketkeeper Graham Manou out of the running.
England hold a 1-0 series lead in the Ashes with three matches to play.
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