Johnson looking good: Ponting by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

---

Player:	RT Ponting, MG Johnson
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

---

DateLine: 1st August 2009

 

Though Mitchell Johnson was not handed the new ball at Edgbaston, his performance was encouraging for skipper Ricky Ponting.

 

Johnson has figures that read 0-23 from 6 overs, and also had a close shout for lbw against Ian Bell turned down.

 

"I think he looked a lot better today than he has in the last couple of games," Ponting said.

 

"He's really taken it upon himself with his body language and his attitude to try and get that better. As a result I think he'll be a bit more confident within himself and that's what he needs right at the moment."

 

"If that (Bell) decision had gone his way tonight it might have been exactly what he needed. He needs to bowl well again tomorrow morning, get a couple of wickets, and everything could return to normal with him."

 

Johnson's day did not start off well though having been adjudged unluckily lbw to a rampant James Anderson, who along with Graham Onions turned the match on its head.

 

"Those things tend to happen when you're going through a bit of a rough trot," Ponting said.

 

"We always talk about that as batsmen who you're probably out of a little bit of touch and you're struggling for runs you seem to have a little bit go against you here and there or you always focus on the things that are going against you."

 

"We had that big shout on Bell tonight which was turned down but hopefully we can create a few more of those tomorrow and we can start getting a few more go our way."