Mitchell Johnson

Easily the most talked about person from the Ashes atm. There is a good piece from cricinfo figuring out what is going wrong for Mitch.

The main point:

What has happened to Mitch? | Cricket Features | The Ashes - England v Australia 2009 | Cricinfo.com

 

His lower arm has certainly hindered him. He swung a few ball in SA and thought that by lowering his arm, he could swing the ball more. The problem is that he can't get his wrist right behind the ball, which is essential for swinging the ball.

He needs to go away and work on what he wants to accomplish, whether he does want to become a swing bowler or whether he'll settle for bowling a tight line and using his pace. Troy Cooley has his work cut out.

 

I'd say it's one of two things:

1.Johnson has always been rubbish and he had two pretty good series against South Africa. I didn't see the SA tour so I can't comment on his bowling, but was he getting consistant swing, or just the odd ball.

2.Johnson has developed into a world-class bowler, ie the two South African series and he is just struggling with the Duke ball.

Like RR has already stated his wrist posistion is very poor so the chances of him swinging the ball are slim to none. But as we have seen in the past he is able to pick up wickets when Rickey Ponting has needed them the most.

I'd say number one is looking most likely at the moment.

 

He got quite a few to swing in SA, the encouraging sign was him swinging it into the right handers at pace. His bouncer has always been a good weapon for him, but he hasn't used that at all this series or it has been ill directed. His cutter is also his best weapon atm which he really needs to use more of especially with his form like this.

His wrist and arm position are at the worst it has been, he has no idea where it is going and it has lead to his worst bowling performance since the Windies tour. He got a few to move in the 1st inns with the old ball which I thought would be the turn around but that was short lived. Don't think we can carry him unless he performs in the tour match.

 

The Cricinfo article brings up good points, and if the pressure is too much for him, I think it would be in the best interest for him and the team to drop him for the remaining matches, but keep him around the squad, keep him bowling in the nets, and build his confidence.

 

It's got nothing to do with "pressure" or whatever, and it's not some huge mystery why he is bowling wayward.

Look at his non-bowling arm. It collapses. That's why he is bowling badly. How is he meant to put the balls on the stumps if his right arm is flying out towards midwicket every few deliveries?

He's got some major technical issues that have gotten worse since the tour of South Africa. The puzzling bit is why he has allowed this to happen.

Should he be dropped? That's a tough one. He is so dangerous and you'd love to be able to hang onto a bit of hope that he will fire in the next test, because he is a match winner. However, Brett Lee took a 5 fer last game and bowled out of his skin last time he played and if he is fit I feel he should play. Stuart Clarke is also in the wings, who would bring that bit of experience and discipline the Australian team really need right now.

My head says get rid of him, and bring in either Clarke or Lee. But my gut thinks he is too dangerous to drop. Glad I'm not an Australian right now, they've got major headaches.

 

Well, the way he is going now, I would be suprised to see him dropped before the 5th Test.

 

Meh, cant blame the mum, she`d be jealous especially with that hot missus of his.
Nah, the way he`s bowling without much swing, he`s got a tough road in front of him.

 

What happened to my earlier post in this thread?

EDIT: It was actually in the second Test thread.

He has had numerous injury problems in his cricketing career, especially with his back, and he devised an action that helped to take stress off his back or whatever they need to do.

If he has been changing his action, it must be for the benefit of his body. I doubt he would be successful and in good form then just change his action, unless he's either pulling up sore, or he has been told by the doctors or specialists or someone to change his action or it will continue damaging his back and/or other parts of his body.

http://www.planetcricket.org/forums/1465680-post1120.html

No such player, TBH.

 

Stuart Clarke is the mixture of Pup and Clark.

 

Mitchell Johnson is not at his best we all know that.These days problem with him is he is trying bit hard and stressing himself rather then playing game with ease and with sportsman spirit he is always aggresive and try to give his best in 6 of 6 balls which is right but bowling 20 to 25 overs per innings and trying to bowl all deliviries at your best is not easy my suggestion to him is just play free and with ease you will suceed.

 

Argh that pisses me off. People that spell Stuey Clark wit an e and Michael Clarke without it. One of the small things that really get to me.

Oh yeah, and Mitch is woeful. Drop him for the series and let him go back and think hard about why he is so bad.

 

?

I hope he is trying, even if he has to bowl 25 overs an innings.

 

As some in the media have said, bowlers often need to keep playing to be thoroughly match fit. In 2006, Glenn McGrath took a few months' break from cricket and returned shortly before the Champions Trophy. Many asked if it was the end of the road for McGrath, because on return, he was lacking in pace and struggling to threaten batsmen. It's stark contrast from his bowling in the World Cup the following year. That of course was the end of the road, but he finished in remarkable style. In fact he remained the leading wicket taker of 2007 until December that year.

 

The main difference is McGrath kept his accuracy and didn't lose his action plus he did have the age excuse. Clearly we should have given Johnson more game time instead of cotton wooling him, but really being an International cricketer he should be able to perform after a break, Hilfy had less preparation and is going great guns.