The Ashes: Johnson's stock falling

In a worrying sign for an out-of-sorts Mitchell Johnson, Queensland quick Ryan Harris has received a glowing appraisal from Australian captain Ricky Ponting ahead of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

Harris was added to the Australian squad for Adelaide along with fellow quick and first Test 12th man Doug Bollinger, placing further pressure on Johnson.

Ponting could not guarantee anyone's position in his pace attack ahead of the Adelaide encounter after Australia managed to draw the first Test at the Gabba.

And speculation is already rife that Australia will be tempted to bring in both Harris and Bollinger for Adelaide at the expense of Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus.

Johnson went wicketless for the first time in his 39-Test career.

And Tasmanian swing king Hilfenhaus is also on notice after match figures of 1-142.

After the hosts claimed a 221-run first innings lead, Australia's attack were humiliated in Brisbane as England piled on a record 517 for one, declared, in their second dig.

Alastair Cook (235 not out) bumped Don Bradman off the record books to claim the highest score at a Gabba Test.

Johnson had match figures of 0-170.

He also suffered an 18-ball duck in Australia's first innings and dropped England skipper Andrew Strauss on 69. Strauss went on to make 110 in a record 188 opening stand with Cook on Sunday.

Johnson is considered Australia's X-factor but he will be fighting to keep his place in Adelaide - especially after Ponting heaped praise on Harris.

"He's had some niggling knee problems in the last couple of games but the fitness staff I've spoken to believe that he will be fine for a Test match," Ponting said.

"We will get a good look at him over the next two days in Adelaide and see where he's at.

"It's nice to have him back around the group."

Struggling for match fitness after battling knee soreness, Harris was cut from the initial 17-strong first Test squad for Brisbane.

But he showed he was back to his best with a match haul of 6-68 for Queensland in this week's drawn game against Victoria in Melbourne.

Adding to Harris' appeal, the burly quick knows the Adelaide deck well after starting his first class career there for South Australia in 2001-02 before moving to Queensland more than three years ago.

Harris took nine wickets at 23.00 in his debut Test series in New Zealand in March.

Ponting said that Bollinger would be pulled out of NSW's current Sheffield Shield match in Perth after Tuesday's play, so he can join the Test squad in Adelaide.

- AAP