Operation Fix Mitch

Chloe Saltau writes in the Age that Troy Cooley’s reputation as the world’s premier fast-bowling coach depends on whether he can rehabilitate Mitchell Johnson in time to save the Ashes.

Cooley’s coaching credentials are impeccable and his mystique as a pace guru was enhanced when he armed England’s bowlers with destructive reverse swing in 2005. However, it was generally acknowledged that Australia missed a trick in India last year when Zaheer Khan used it better than the Australian bowlers by scuffing up the ball early, a technique they have tried to emulate in England.

In the Courier-Mail, Allan Border argues the case for dropping Johnson and including Stuart Clark, but Ricky Ponting in his column in the Australian says fans shouldn't expect too many team changes for Edgbaston.

Mike Selvey writes in the Guardian that the simplest way for Johnson to get back to his best is to focus on bowling fast and across right-hand batsmen and forget about bringing the ball back in.