Strike bowler Mitchell Johnson has been dropped from the Australian team for the first time for Friday's second Ashes Test against England at the Adelaide Oval.

Johnson, Australia's leading active wicket-taker with 166 wickets in 39 Tests, was left out of the squad with a decision on a final 11 to be made on the morning of the match.

Captain Ricky Ponting confirmed Johnson had been omitted so he could address some issues with his bowling after going without a wicket for 170 runs for the first time in his Test career during last Monday's drawn Gabba Test.

Fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris, who were added to the squad after the Brisbane Test, are vying for places in the team.

"Selectors felt Mitch was down on a bit of form and down on rhythm, that was probably highlighted in the last game," Ponting told a news conference on Thursday.

"The game of Test match cricket is hard enough as it is without having to try to find those things in the middle of a Test match.

"With a short turnaround as well he now has a bit of time before the (third) Perth Test match to hopefully rediscover some of that rhythm."

Johnson, whose left-arm slinging style has a small margin for error and is prone to waywardness, took the news with grace.

"It's obviously disappointing but it's not the end of the world," Johnson told reporters.

"We still have a lot of Tests to go in this series and I'm going to be working my way back into this Test team and hopefully play a big part.

"There are some things I am going to work on in the nets and I was a little out of form in the last Test, so there's a bit of work for me to do.

"I'm a strike bowler for Australia and I need to get wickets. In the back of your head, you're sort of thinking [you might be dropped], but I think I've handled it pretty well.

"In the end, I need to work things out, go to net sessions, get back in the gym, get my head straight, and get back into the team."

Ponting indicated that the final spot in the team may be between swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and recalled paceman Harris, who began his domestic playing career in Adelaide before moving to Queensland, and backed Johnson to bounce back at some stage.

"Hilfy's strengths are his ability to swing the new ball, he's a very consistent bowler and bowls in good areas to tie batters down," Ponting said.

"Ryan's strengths are that he has played much of his cricket here, he's probably slightly quicker in the air, he hits the wicket harder than Ben does and probably he's the better reverse swing bowler for later in the game.

"Ben did a terrific job for us in the Indian conditions that will probably be similar to what the wicket will be like here, particularly over the last couple of days.

"It makes that decision a pretty difficult one which is why we need a fair bit of time to think about it."

"Mitch has had his ups and downs on and off the field. I've seen him get the better of a lot of things he has had to face the past few years.

"His record speaks for itself so I am sure we will see him back with the baggy green cap on pretty soon."

Coach Tim Nielsen suggested that a rested, hopefully rejuvenated Johnson would be back for the third Test at his home ground.

"We're going to take the opportunity now to give him a spell and relax so he can hit the ground running and be as ready as he can be for Perth," Nielsen concluded.

"We'll use every resource we can to ensure that he's ready to go for that game."

Squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Xavier Doherty, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus. (12th man to be named).