Langer backs WA protegee Johnson to return to Oz Test side during winter Ashes

Former Australian cricketer Justin Langer, who is the coach of domestic side Western Australia (WA), has backed his side's player Mitchell Johnson in his bid to return to the national Test side during the winter Ashes.

The left-arm fast bowler is believed to be in the eyes of the national selectors for a return to Test ranks for the Ashes series that will start in Brisbane on November 21.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Langer said that Johnson would be given every opportunity to impress the selectors, although he admitted that Johnson has not played a lot of four-day cricket as compared to one-day cricket.

However, Langer dismissed talk of Johnson being nervous with the first Test, saying that he does not need to be as he is a veteran player, adding that WA is going to use Johnson's aggressive bursts of bowling during their games in order to put his hand up for selection in the first Test.

Johnson has played in 51 Tests for Australia and taken 205 wickets at an average of 30.93 although he has not worn the baggy green cap since March of this year when he went wicket-less against India in a Test in Delhi, the report added.