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Mitchell Johnson sits alone as his Australian teammates talk around him at Australia's training ahead of the second Ashes Test. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

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The out of form left-armer was told he had been axed after training just one day out from the Adelaide match.

"We spoke not long ago about just making sure I get my bowling where I need to get it, because mentally I feel fine," Johnson said on Thursday.

"Throughout that (Brisbane) Test match I had a couple of frustrating moments but mentally I felt fine throughout that Test match, whereas in the past if I didn't get any wickets or struggled through a Test match I probably had my head down and was yelling into my hat a lot.

"I think throughout that Test match I handled it pretty well, but I probably just need to keep working on my bowling, make sure I'm feeling strong with my bowling and getting everything together I guess, so that's part of what we're doing."

Australian coach Tim Nielsen explained why Johnson would be kept with the squad rather than sent home to Western Australia.

"We really feel it's important for Mitch to stay with the team, for two reasons. One is that he is an integral part of our bowling group and while he's not playing he can still play a big role for the other guys in supporting them," said Nielsen.

"And secondly he'll work closely with Troy (Cooley). There's a big difference between playing at state level and playing at international level, and we need to try to get Mitchell's game and mind back into a place that's going to allow him to play his best.

"In the short term it's not about him playing more cricket, it's about fixing up the way he's going about to give him more chance of playing well for Australia."

Australian captain Ricky Ponting said Johnson's poor form in his 0-170 return in the Ashes opener cost him his place.

Fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris remain in a 12-man squad, with the starting XI to be decided before play, Ponting said.

"Mitchell Johnson is out of the side, so we are down to the other quickies left and we'll decide the final make-up of the XI in the morning,'' Ponting said after training.

"The selectors felt  he was just down on a bit of form and down on a bit of rhythm. I think that was probably highlighted in the last game.

"As we all know, the game of Test match cricket is hard enough as it is without having to try and find those types of things in the middle of a Test match.''

Ponting said Johnson was noticeably out of touch.

'He has got a little bit of time now before the Perth Test match to, hopefully, rediscover some of that rhythm,'' Ponting said.

"Everyone standing around the nets and watching him and watching him during the game last week realised he was a little bit off the mark and a bit off bowling the way that we know he can bowl.

"Quite often when we see most of our guys, it only takes (bowling coach) Troy (Cooley) and the coach (Tim Nielsen) and myself a few minutes to stand there and watch, and you just know whether those guys are in good touch or not.''

Ponting gave his own subtle indications that it was not the decision he may have made.

"Sometimes it doesn't matter what I think,'' said Ponting.

"We thought long and hard about the decision that was made with Mitch. We honestly think it will make our attack better for this game.''

The balance of selectorial power between captains and selectors has been a fluid one down the years, but few captains seemed to have as much say as Ponting has.

Ponting, coach Tim Nielsen and vice-captain Michael Clarke have all spoken this week with the inclination that Johnson would play, but their pronouncements rang hollow today.

"When it's big decisions like this one that are to be made it's wholly and solely made by the selection panel,'' said Ponting.

"Of course they ask for my input and the coach's input but ... they're the ones that make the decisions.''

 

Australia (12th man to be named)
Ricky Ponting (capt)
Michael Clarke
Simon Katich
Shane Watson
Mike Hussey
Marcus North
Brad Haddin
Xavier Doherty
Ryan Harris
Ben Hilfenhaus
Doug Bollinger
Peter Siddle