Johnson is Struggling. Gladly.

The Ashes is often celebrated as the biggest and best cricket contest; it has the potential to make or break any gifted individual. Mitchell Johnson baffling form so far this series is an implacable godsend for Andrew Strauss’ men and after his frightening form against South Africa last winter, the England team must be relieved that he is not just struggling he’s struggling badly.

Johnson pronounced himself as one of the leading young fast test bowlers in cricket after his one-man mission against a strong Springboks team, where he took eight for 61; he became Australia’s leading talisman as they touted him as a possible replacement for the almost irreplaceable Glenn McGrath.

Johnson’s pace and power in often seen as his strong point, ask Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith what’s it like to face Johnson, both retired hurt after a devastating bowling display, but what he supplies in speed and power he lacks in control and consistency. When on song he is one of the best. At Kingsmead, Johnson removed Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie in his first over but the way he took on the vastly experienced Kallis and Smith was most remarkable. He broke Smith’s hand and split Kallis’ chin that highlighted his fearsome attitude and promising potential. Cricket commentator Peter Roebuck even described him as ‘the best fast bowler in the world’. Seems absolutely laughable now doesn’t it?

His bowling so far in this Ashes series, couldn't dent a tin of Victoria Bitter nevertheless dent England’s hopes of reclaiming the Ashes. He bowled wide, he lacked control, he’s not dependable and even the ‘mastermind’ that is Ricky Ponting often ignores his pledges to bowl to wrong his rights. The English batsmen have gone after him (when they can actually reach the ball) and Australia are seemingly paying the price.

They can’t rush Brett Lee back quick enough and if Johnson is omitted from the third test, it would not be the biggest surprise. Johnson’s confidence is shot to pieces and it might take a little while to get those pieces back together – God knows Ponting is not the man to help restore confidence he’s too busy being the very sorest of losers.

Johnson was heavily tipped to succeed and be successful this summer, and he was one of Australia’s most hyped Ashes debutants for years. Perhaps he was expected to do more and be the lynchpin of the visitors attack and that may have just heaped the pressure on to him a little too much. Every time Ponting hands Johnson the new ball he must feel like he’s handing his wife over to Shane Warne for a romantic evening – nothing good can ever come from it.

Johnson’s three for in England’s first innings of the second test does not speak volume of how bad his bowling has been. He conceded 132 run in just 22 overs and that’s a cardinal sin in test cricket. Ben Hilfenhaus bowled nines overs more, got four wickets and went for 30 runs less. England’s second innings didn’t go much better for Johnson either as he ended up wicketless and completely out of sorts.

For England’s sake, let’s hope his awful form continues.