Johnson missed Adelaide Test due to selection panel’s rotation strategy: Chappell

PERTH - Australian selector Greg Chappell has said that out-of-form fast bowler Mitchell Johnson had missed the second Ashes Test due to the selection panel’s rotation strategy.

Chappell said that the hectic schedule of five Tests in seven weeks had led the panel to devise the strategy.

“We didn’t plan for Mitch to struggle in Brisbane, but certainly we had made plans beforehand to leave him out of the second Test because we felt the conditions would have suited Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger,” the Age quote Chappell, as saying.

“Mitch was certainly out of sorts. It was always dependent of form, if he had brained them in Brisbane we would have given him consideration for Adelaide, but with five Tests in seven weeks we felt we needed to mix and match the attack to suit the conditions. It is a marathon.”

“We planned before the series that we wanted him up and running for Brisbane and Perth. It hasn’t all gone to plan, we need him to find form and to have confidence going into the Perth Test and be a match winner,” he added.

Johnson was omitted after finishing with figures of 0-170 during the drawn first Test in Brisbane, but has been included in the 12-man squad for the third Test.

Australia is currently 0-1 down in the five-match series after losing the second Test in Adelaide by an innings and 71 runs. (ANI)