ADELAIDE, (Reuters) – Pace bowler Mitchell Johnson has been dropped from the Australia squad for the second Ashes test against England, captain Ricky Ponting said yesterday. The 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year finished the first test in Brisbane with figures of 0-170 as England batted for two days to rescue a draw.
His departure leaves Australia with a 12-man squad for the test with Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris both vying for Johnson’s spot in the team.
“The selectors felt (Johnson) was down on a bit of form and down on a bit of rhythm and test match cricket is hard enough without having to try and rediscover that as well,” Ponting told a news conference.
The final team will be announced on the first morning of the test tomorrow.
Australia squad – Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Xavier Doherty.
