Australia Reinforce Second Ashes Test Squad with Harris, Bollinger

by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu

  Australia have been exposed. Or so they believe. And they do not care. As far as they are concerned, all they need to do is quickly ring in the changes, as the second Test of Ashes 2010 quickly approaches at the Adelaide Oval.

 Mitchell Johnson has been identified as the villian in Australia's first Test story gone horribly wrong at the Gabba in Brisbane and in keeping with it, the selectors have announced that Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris will joint he squad. Australia's bowling potency was significantly reduced in light of the manner in which England's top three batsmen defied all odds to take England from the brink of defeat to superlative success that is not always associated in a draw.

Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, has openly talked up Harris' talent which has led to speculation that Johnson may be falling further from the eyes of the captain. It comes as a bitter disappointment because Johnson identified himself as a lethal weapon two years back with Brett Lee falling off the radar and has since proved his prowess with the bat in the series against South Africa. But many are attributing Johnson's lack of runs to the wickets drying up for Johnson.

 It may be recalled that Johnson was not exactly the face of the Ashes in 2009 for Australia either as his game fell apart amidst controversy dogging his personal life revolving around his mother and his fiance. While it would seem a bold move for Ponting to drop Johnson altogether for Adelaide, it is even harder to imagine Harris being brought in for Siddle who performed outstandingly well despite the fact that he was coming in from injury lay off.

Bollinger was also dismissed off the game plan for the first Test and Ponting attributed it to lack of match practice for the bowler. However, with things having gone decidedly England's way, perhaps the team management is having second thoughts and working on a proposition of a gamble from a position that would seem akin to fall from grace.

Australia's squad for the second Test of the Ashes at the Adelaide Oval:
Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice captain), Doug Bollinger, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Mike Hussey, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson