Ponting backing misfiring Mitchell Johnson

The Aussies are unlikely to finalise their side until tonight and they could even leave a decision until the morning following one last look at the Edgbaston pitch.

But Ponting has made it plain that Johnson is still firmly in their thoughts, despite him having a nightmare at Lord's as England went 1-0 ahead in the npower series and then finishing last weekend's tour game at Northampton with grim figures.

"It's been more of a confidence thing and we're probably using him in this game in a slightly different way than in the first couple of games — using him more as a strike, impact bowler," said Ponting, whose words seemed to suggest that Johnson was already a done deal for Edgbaston.

Australia's captain promptly went on to the back foot when asked directly whether the Queenslander's name could be inked onto tomorrow's team sheet.

"You can assume whatever you like," he said with a smile. "I wouldn't go assuming too much because we haven't finalised an XI yet."

There is no doubt, though, that Australia will be loathe to ditch Johnson, who bowled brilliantly for them in South Africa four months ago and could yet be an Ashes winner this summer.

The 27-year-old left-armer with a slingy action is still the leading wicket-taker among the pace bowlers on either side with eight victims.

Trouble is, they have cost him 41 runs apiece and it was his woeful performance with the new ball at Lord's — eight overs for 53 runs — which enabled England to get away to a flyer through Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook.

Jonhson was not given the new ball in either innings against Northants, where match figures of 18.1-1-107-1 did his case no good at all.

But Ponting has looked beyond the analysis. He said: "Although his figures didn't look that flattering, towards the latter half of the game he started to get the ball through at really good pace and you could see he was a lot clearer about what he was trying to do.

"I think he got a bit out of the game at Northampton. We've all looked closely at what he's done on this tour and there has been a lot of talk about his technique and his action being all over the place. But we've had some good close looks at that and it's not."

Johnson has also had to deal with a widely publicised rift between his mother and his girlfriend which has made big headlines Down Under.

Ponting said: "There's stuff off the field that's probably not making it any easier for him but he's going okay.

"Last week at Northampton we just tried to get right back to basics with him and let him go into a game with not a great deal of expectation — just to run in and bowl and be clear about what he wanted to do.

"As we've already seen, he's been able to strike for us — he's taken eight wickets in the two Tests — so that part of his game is still there but we just have to look at using him in different ways."

If Australia do decide to change their pace attack, then Stuart Clark is the seamer most likely to come in.

But Clark's inclusion could be at the expense of Peter Siddle, rather than Johnson.

Whatever their bowling line-up at Edgbaston, though, Australia know they must bat better, having been shot out for 215 in their first innings at Lord's.

"There has been a lot of focus on our bowling on that first morning at Lord's and, yes, it wasn't as good as it had been but our batting was pretty poor in the first innings," said Ponting.

"That's another area we have to work on and rectify and we've had a good chat about some of the reasons why that might have been.

"I think you have to look at it as a blip. We made 400-odd in the second innings and nearly 700 at Cardiff."