Print

[cleanbowled]

Mitch is really decimating England at the moment. He always had the potential or the x-factor, but was far too inconsistent. He has strung three brilliant performances here though, 16 wickets in 3 innings so far. Interesting, his overall test stats are actually better than Anderson (More wickets per match, lower average as well). Not sure he is ready yet to assume the mantle of the spearhead in the Aussie lineup, but if he keeps it up he might just become that. To me he looks like he much stronger mentally and way more confident in his own abilities.

[Vic Nicholas]

Australian and SA fans will tell you that talent has never been the issue with Johnson, but, confidence is.

When he hit his lows in 2009/10/11, he was preferring to bowl first change rather than take the brand new pill.

At the moment, he looks like he wants the ball in his hand at all times.

[cleanbowled]

Might be wrong, but I think it was Ricky Ponting who reckoned he had never seen anyone as talented as Mitch has such low self confidence in their own abilities. I think with him its always been getting his head right, and now it looks like he final has got that sorted, and got his self confidence back -if I was English I'd be pretty worried about the rest of this series. He blew them away in the first innings in Adelaide, wonder how they will face up at the WACA.

[Blank Bats]

Where have England gone wrong.
Aussies came into the series after a disasterous India series

No one gave them a chance.

Hats off to them .

[Number4]

Did they take it too easy maybe? Thinking it would be a walk in the park

[Gingerbusiness]

England's batsmen need to take a long, hard look at themselves.

I'm really sorry to the Aussies on here, but Mitchell Johnson hasn't suddenly found a magic formula, or 'realised his potential', because if he was bowling against a Dhawan, Amla, Kohli, Kallis... Etc... He would still be getting hit around because he bowls so many loose deliveries.

However, Being English, I am glad Cook, Pietersen and Prior are being taught a humiliating lesson about arrogance. Something which has been seriously needed for 2 years now - neither of them have played to the level they did when Strauss was captain and need to have a long, hard look at themselves.

England's bowlers have tried their hearts out. Anderson is never as effective down under. Swann and Panesar bowled tirelessly with little luck/support from fielders in the first innings. Broad has bowled well and stokes look like he could have the attributes of a new Flintoff (but 2nd test of an Ashes to test that theory... Really?!). If Finn isn't considered as a strike bowler for the WACA, I will be in disbelief. He is expensive but so dangerous when he gets it right.

Who knows - maybe 11 players will turn up for England at the WACA who look like they want to play - but let's be honest, I doubt it.

[RossViper]

England's batsmen need to take a long, hard look at themselves.

I'm really sorry to the Aussies on here, but Mitchell Johnson hasn't suddenly found a magic formula, or 'realised his potential', because if he was bowling against a Dhawan, Amla, Kohli, Kallis... Etc... He would still be getting hit around because he bowls so many loose deliveries.

However, Being English, I am glad Cook, Pietersen and Prior are being taught a humiliating lesson about arrogance. Something which has been seriously needed for 2 years now - neither of them have played to the level they did when Strauss was captain and need to have a long, hard look at themselves.

England's bowlers have tried their hearts out. Anderson is never as effective down under. Swann and Panesar bowled tirelessly with little luck/support from fielders in the first innings. Broad has bowled well and stokes look like he could have the attributes of a new Flintoff (but 2nd test of an Ashes to test that theory... Really?!). If Finn isn't considered as a strike bowler for the WACA, I will be in disbelief. He is expensive but so dangerous when he gets it right.

Who knows - maybe 11 players will turn up for England at the WACA who look like they want to play - but let's be honest, I doubt it.

Spot on, spot on.

I would also add, it's been a long long few years for a lot of those guys, it's Christmas time and they are away from home playing back to back ashes. I know they are playing for their county etc, but they are only human. Even I am getting a bit weary of ashes cricket...

[cleanbowled]

England look a bit shellshocked, I think they have gifted Mitchell a few wickets by what looks like just old fashioned panic and fear.

I think its been a little sad actually, had expected a little more fight  - England were rightly on paper the favorites going in.

Not sure about Steve Finn, I haven't seen as much of him as you guys, but he hasn't really looked like the guy I saw a couple of years ago in the one dayers against India (when India lost the test match no  1 ranking). He was getting to 150 plus regularly, a very similar pace to what Mitch is generating now. In the last ashes he was no where near the same hostility and pace, and he hasn't really set the world on fire in the tour games.

[Manormanic]

Did they take it too easy maybe? Thinking it would be a walk in the park

No; as we were saying a few months ago, England are a tired team and have looked like they were on the verge for a while.  Cook, Prior and to a lesser extent Pietersen look shot, Trott has gone and Root is having to learn his role whilst being shifted around the order.  The bowling is still fine - would be better to have Bresnan around or to have gone for Rankin, but basically decent, if not entirely suited to Australian conditions - but the fielding has started to decline too.  Australia, as I'm sure they'd say themselves, have performed more or less how they did in the Summer - the batting is okay when they are on top, poor when they're not, the seam bowling is strong with good plans - the difference is more that England have slipped.

As for Johnson, whilst I though he bowled more or less rubbish in the first test and was gifted a few wickets, he was bloody marvellous last night - really something to see.

[procricket]

When firing Johnson is world class there no doubt about that.

When he is on pomp he is better than Anderson I would say but he has 2 to 3 bad days for that one good day bit like his batting the enigma.

Anderson is steady away on his day he is devastating but in the main he is a steady bowler.

I suspect Mitchell will have his day again soon

I must be a mind reader

[cleanbowled]

Just curious as I don't know enough about the England domestic scene, do England have someone capable of bowling in the speed bracket as Mitch regularly. The likes of Anderson and Broad are very skillful but they lack the sheer pace and hostility factor that Mitchell has, and I don't really see that in any of the other bowlers I know in the English setup.

[lazza32]

This is for Vic 

Right - according to the statistics, Anderson and Johnson are a similar quality of bowler and in fact with Johnson's batting, he is a significantly better bet as a pick than Anderson. Now we have all watched Anderson lead our attack all over the world and be awesome, whilst laughing at Johnson's perceived ineptitude. But the stats don't point to this being fair. In the past they were both "daisy" bowlers (some days he does, some days he doesn't). The questions I have are around how has Mitchell Johnson got the stats he has!!

If you are reading this with incredulous disbelief, check for yourself.
Mitchell Johnson - www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/6033.html
Jimmy Anderson - www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/8608.html

Plus, even if you edit the stats to Anderson's second incarnation as a test bowler since he replaced Hoggy in New Zealand, the results are the same.

Personally I would never consider picking Johnson ahead of Anderson - but it is amazing what lies you can get from statistics - I mean they also suggest that Kallis is a better player than Tendulkar...

I think it's because Johnson boom or bust are more significant. Either he gets pasted or he gets masses of wickets.

Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk

[Colesy]

When Johnson is on form he is unstoppable, like others have said he needs to be more consistent.

[keysersolze]

I would Always pick mitch over Anderson he is looking better with every match!!! His bowling coach must be very pleased with himself and it would be nice to hear what Saker is telling Anderson!!!!!

[mk_chappo]

As a captain it is always nice to have an  'X factor' bowler in your line up. If it's not his day then you just have to spread out some of his overs between the other (or fiddle a few part time overs in). But when it is his day he's going to win you matches single handed. The consistency of of the other Aussie seamers has allowed Mitch to have a free reign. And when it's going well for him - you don't want to be down the other end !