Ashes Update: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 coach Tim Nielsen stands by struggling Mitchell Johnson
The coach of the Australian team Tim Nielsen has backed his number one strike bowler Mitchell Johnson after a listless performance by the pacer in the first Test match of the Ashes series at the Gabba.
The left-armer had a match to forget, returning figures of 0-170 in the match after failing to get even a single wicket in the two innings played by England.
The POMS made one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent Test history to post a score of 517/1 after conceding a 221 runs lead in the first innings.
Johnson, who was being hailed as the match-winner in the Australian bowling ranks, gave the worst show of his 39-match career to derail Aussie hopes of winning at their favourite venue.
Johnson, who was the star for the Australians during their win in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 last year, has seen his graph go down remarkably ever since.
Even in seaming conditions in England during last year’s Ashes and the two-match neutral series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, Johnson continued to struggle.
His main weapon had been his pace and lateral movement yet it seems that both traits have gone missing from his armoury and Nielsen believes that he has to work hard to get back in rhythm.
However, he has a soft spot for his premier bowler and hopes that he would be roaring back soon.
"He didn't have his best game, but 11 wickets in the Test match for both groups says it's hard work to me," Nielsen said, shortly after the team's arrival in Adelaide. "He didn't bowl as well as he would
have liked, and that's our job over the next couple of days to make sure we get him back up and going.
“At different times there have been a lot of players who haven't performed in one Test match and then have come out and upped the ante. That's the challenge of a five-day Test.”
Nielsen added that many bowlers have gone through harrowing slumps in their careers yet they have bounced back strongly from the times of adversity. He is hopeful that Johnson would find his radar soon and
help the Aussies regain the Ashes.
"We all identify that he didn't have the best game. But there were times when we let it get away - not as an individual but as a bowling group - and when that happens, one guy usually gets exposed, and Mitch
is the one we're talking about. Throughout his career, he's had his ups and downs but there's not an international who hasn't gone the long-term without ups and downs. Mitch is no different. But we need to address that tomorrow morning, and find way a way
to attack the English team and take 20 wickets.
"We've got to make sure Mitch is relaxed and thinking clearly about what works for him. We know he prepared well but that doesn't guarantee anything. There's a couple of little things we can work on, we can make sure we jump around
the bowling group and each other, and make sure he's in as good a place as he can be. He's taken 160 Test wickets so he's good at this game."
The left-armer is averaging more than 4 wickets per Test match, which is considered as the benchmark for quality bowlers.
On the other hand, there is a serious question mark over his selection for the Adelaide Test match as the selectors have included Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris in the mix for the Test that is again expected to be played on a benign
wicket.
Despite Nielsen’s backing, it looks unlikely that Johnson would take the field at Adelaide, as his captain Ricky Ponting has stated that he was happy to see Harris back in the squad as he had done remarkably well whenever he has
been called for national duty.
Even if Johnson plays at Adelaide, he would be aware that the match would be very much a last chance for him to redeem his career.
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