Ponting upset with selection panel over Johnson’s omission

ADELAIDE - Australian captain Ricky Ponting is unhappy with the omission of fast bowler Mitchell Johnson from the Ashes Test squad.

For the first time it looks as if Ponting’s opinion doesn’t count anymore in matters of team selection. In the first Ashes Test, Ponting wielded considerable influence over the national selectors, that saw left-arm spin of Xavier Doherty in side at the expense of Nathan Hauritz.

But the omission of Johnson for the second Ashes Test has left Ponting upset.

“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. When it’s big decisions like this one that are to be made, it’s wholly and solely made by the selection panel,” Ponting was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

“Of course, they ask for my input and the coach’s input but … they’re the ones that make the decisions,” he said.

The daily revealed that the dropping of Johnson could be seen as the hand of new selector Greg Chappell, who is likely to take over the chairmanship from incumbent Andrew Hilditch, whose contract runs out after the 2011 World Cup.

Asked if the selectors would show some mercy to Johnson as they did in the case of Mike Hussey, Ponting said: “Good question. You might have to ask Andrew Hilditch that.”