Johnson finding form

Embattled paceman Mitchell Johnson gave the most encouraging sign yet on Friday night that he has finally turned the corner in this year's Ashes series.

Johnson, considered a surprise selection after his horror start to the tour, bowled with more control than he showed in Cardiff or Lord's, though, as expected, was not asked to bowl with the new ball.

From six overs, Johnson has 0-23 though was mighty unlucky to have a huge lbw shout against Ian Bell turned down by Rudi Koertzen during his second three-over spell.

"I think he looked a lot better today than he has in the last couple of games," Ponting said.

"He's really taken it upon himself with his body language and his attitude to try and get that better."

"As a result I think he'll be a bit more confident within himself and that's what he needs right at the moment."

"If that (Bell) decision had gone his way tonight it might have been exactly what he needed."

"He needs to bowl well again tomorrow morning, get a couple of wickets, and everything could return to normal with him."

Johnson's day began ominously for Australia when he was fired out for a first-ball duck, unluckily adjudged lbw to a rampant James Anderson, who - along with Graham Onions - turned the match on its head.

"Those things tend to happen when you're going through a bit of a rough trot," Ponting said.

"We always talk about that as batsmen who you're probably out of a little bit of touch and you're struggling for runs you seem to have a little bit go against you here and there or you always focus on the things that are going against you."

"We had that big shout on Bell tonight which was turned down but hopefully we can create a few more of those tomorrow and we can start getting a few more go our way."