Economical Johnson does the job: Nielsen

He's been the third wheel in the Australian pace attack during the first two Tests, but coach Tim Nielsen insists Mitchell Johnson is still providing an important role for the tourists in the West Indies. After a strong start to his Test career over the Australian summer, left-armer Johnson has so far struggled to replicate those performances in his first Test series abroad. The Queenslander has lacked both swing and penetration in the opening two Tests in Jamaica and Antigua, taking five wickets at a click over 46 while senior paceman Brett Lee (13) and Stuart Clark (nine) have carried the Australian attack, accounting for well over half of the Windies' dismissals. Nielsen, though, believes those numbers only tell half the story. "I'm probably not that concerned, I reckon he's done some pretty good things over the last couple of Test matches," Nielsen said. "At the moment, Binga (Lee) is flying, and he's taking the wickets. "But we're lucky that Mitch is able to piggy back on the back of Bing and Stuey Clark, who are doing so well at the moment. "And if you look at the numbers he's actually providing a pretty good role for us, he's giving them a spell when we need it, he's not being expensive and he's keeping some real pressure on by bowling quick." While his average is not flash, Johnson is at least keeping pace with both Lee and Clark in terms of economy rates this series, with all three bowlers conceding less than three runs an over. The 26-year-old has also dramatically cut down dishing out free runs by overstepping. After bowling four no balls and a wide in the first innings of the first Test, Johnson has since bowled 55 overs without conceding an extra. As for his lack of swing, Nielsen contends Johnson is not alone in that department over in the Caribbean. "People are saying Mitch isn't swinging the ball, well to be honest with you apart from four or five overs in the second innings in Jamaica we haven't seen the ball swung a hell of a lot new, the only time it has swung has been when it's old and it started going reverse," Nielsen said. "It's all great to say we want the ball swinging, but on these pitches, the balls chopped up after five overs. And in terms of pitches, it's not the WACA or the Gabba over here." Still, despite Nielsen's positive assessment of Johnson, Australia's bowling attack would appear the biggest concern for the team at present. While the batting order has progressed soundly since the rash of retirements over the past 18 months, skipper Ricky Ponting conceded Australia's bowling attack had come back to the field somewhat in the direct aftermath of the drawn second Test. With Australia likely to debut left-arm wrist-spinner Beau Casson in the third Test at Kensington Oval starting Thursday, the bowlers are set to come under more scrutiny, with the pressure for Johnson in particular to carry more weight in the attack likely to grow. Nielsen believes the young quick is up to the task and will only improve now he has been exposed to more foreign wickets. "I think it's all part of the learning curve for him, and every time he bowls in these conditions or somewhere else in the world other than Australia he's going to be better for the opportunity and we've just got to be mindful of that," said Nielsen. - end.