Marnus adds intrigue to Aussie opener debate with dazzling county cricket century
Probably the most popular Aussie in Wales, Marnus Labuschagne rarely lets down the fans at his Glamorgan "second home". The Test batting maestro was…
Paceman Mitchell Johnson has been dropped from Australia’s side for the second cricket Test against England.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting said Johnson’s poor form in his wicketless Ashes opener cost him a place for the Adelaide Test starting Friday.
Fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris remain in a 12-man squad, with the starting XI to be decided before play, Ponting said.
“Mitchell Johnson is out of the side, so we are down to the other quickies left and we’ll decide the final make-up of the XI in the morning,” Ponting told reporters on Thursday.
“The selectors felt that he just down on a bit of form and down on a bit of rhythm, I think that was probably highlighted in the last game.
“As we all know, the game of Test match cricket is hard enough as it is without having to try and find those types of things in the middle of a Test match.”
Ponting said Johnson was noticeably out of touch.
“… He has got a little bit of time now obviously before the Perth Test match to hopefully rediscover some of that rhythm,” Ponting said.
“Everyone standing around the nets and watching him and watching him during the game last week realised he was a little bit off the mark and a bit off bowling the way that we know he can bowl.
“Quite often when we see most of our guys, it only takes (bowling coach) Troy (Cooley) and the coach (Tim Nielsen) and myself a few minutes to stand there and watch, and you just know whether those guys are in good touch or not.”
Australia team XI v England, The Ashes (12th man to be named): Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Xavier Doherty, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.
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New Zealand took 28 years to win a Test match, finally triumphing in 1956. There were plenty of skilled individuals before that but not a complete team.