**Australia captain Ricky Ponting says under-fire bowler Mitchell Johnson will not be made a scapegoat after England’s 115-run win in the second Ashes Test.**Johnson took only three wickets for 200 runs in the match, including 0-68 in 17 overs during England’s second innings.
Ponting said: “We have to be careful how we manage him over the next bit.”
Asked about the third Test at Edgbaston, Ponting added: “Of course I can see him playing. It’s not as if he’s lost everything he ever had.”
Ponting is eager to boost the confidence of the 27-year-old paceman and stated: "Bowling coach Troy Cooley is obviously working really closely with him.
“What you don’t want to do with youngish blokes - Mitch has only played 20-odd Tests and is still pretty new to the game and pretty new to fast bowling - is to fill their heads full of too much and have him thinking of too many things all the time.”
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“Johnson needs to be used more like an all rounder”
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Although he disappointed with the ball at Lord’s, Johnson showed his prowess with the bat, making a belligerent 63 off 75 balls after coming in at number eight in Australia’s second innings.
The tourists have a three-day tour match against Northamptonshire, which starts on Friday, before the third Test gets under way at Edgbaston on 30 July.
Ponting believes that could be the chance Johnson needs.
"He’s up for the challenge. He’s continually trying to make himself better in all aspects of his game, " added Ponting. "Hopefully we will see some improvement from him in Northampton, if he does happen to play that game.
“It would be great to see him get a bit more confidence and a bit more rhythm than he’s got at the moment.”
With Brett Lee still struggling for fitness, Stuart Clark is the leading candidate to replace Johnson if Australia decide to make a change.