The most important concern for Australia at the moment remains to be the form in which Mitchell Johnson is. The answer to this is not even easy for the selectors and the fans as well.
No one, including the player himself knows as to how he will turn up in the upcoming encounter. Will he perform to the best of his abilities like the show he put up against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757? Or will he just spray around the deliveries, the way he displayed in
England tour consistently for two years? Again, this is now haunting http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 as the importance of Mitchell Johnson in the bowling line up for the team is very high.
Johnson holds a reputation of a bowler with “menacing” nature in the world of cricket. But this was when he got a place in the Australian line-up back in 2009. It was only after he broke Graeme Smith’s hand two times in consecutive series and denting Jacques
Kallis’s chin, that his significance was felt. This time the conditions and the form is different altogether. He used to not only create angles with darting deliveries but also swung around the ball to perfection, making it almost unplayable. This was not
all. He bagged 33 wickets in just six test matches and became a hyped up bowler who lived up to the repute well.
Even former Australian players have acknowledged the fact that he is one of the smartest operators in the world of cricket. According to Damien Fleming
“Johnson is one of the most hostile bowler of my generation”. This explains of the status that Johnson used to enjoy only two years back. Since then, everyone has had a move on, while Johnson has gone backwards. It was not until late 2009 that the
man lost his charm and ability to demolish the opponent. It seemed that his dangerous ability to dominate the opponent had lost composure. He looked afraid of his own brutal instinct and it was felt that his skill lost weight, once his most preserved asset.
Nothing lethal is left in his bowling from quite sometime now which is causing concern as far as the Ashes 2010 is concerned.
It is not necessary for fast bowlers to adapt a mean attitude on field, but sometimes it is of assistance. When there was heavy criticism on the Kangaroos earlier this month that this side was over paid and even over-rated, it could easily be traced back
to the 29-year-old Johnson. Since the fight he put up against South Africa, expectations grew but the pacer hardly delivered. It is because of all this that the debate over whether Johnson is the main attack for Australia in the upcoming event or not has arisen.
And the debate remains in a state of confusion because the insecurity caused by his recent form is pretty evident.
Former players have jumped forward to defend the pacer in terms of having an important role in the upcoming tournament. Michael Kasprowicz seems pretty adamant on the fact that he deserves a place in the playing eleven and that he is a fighter. He insists
that Mitchell takes wickets at regular intervals and if by chance he revives his form in the first encounter on Thursday, then it is likely the case that match will shift in favour of the Kangaroos.
Whatever is the case, Aussie selectors and players are defending the fast bowler in every way possible. They are of the view that he has contributed to the side in the best possible manner and that his inclusion is justified. However they seem desperate
to know what the player is thinking and what can they expect from the pacer in the upcoming matches.
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