Johnson fiercely targeted Warner regarding the farewell test series against Pakistan.

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Perth. Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has hit out at David Warner over the upcoming farewell Test series against Pakistan and questioned why the left-handed opener is being given a hero’s farewell despite the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal. He has played a role in the scandal.

Warner had earlier said that he wants to end his Test career when Australia faces Pakistan in the third and final match of the series at the SCG in January 2024. On Sunday, Warner was named in Australia’s 14-player squad for the first Test against Pakistan. The first Test will begin on December 14 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Johnson wrote in his column for ‘The West Australian’, “As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can anyone tell me why this is? Why a struggling Test opener has to name his own retirement date. And why should the player at the center of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history be given a hero’s farewell?”

Johnson delved into Warner’s involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal during the Test series against South Africa in Cape Town, which meant the opening batsman was banned for 12 months.

“Although Warner was not alone in Sandpapergate, he was a senior member of the team at the time and was someone who liked to use his perceived power as a “leader”. It’s been five years and David Warner has yet to Also don’t actually own the ball in the tampering scandal. What will the fans bring to Warner? Bunnings would be sold out like sandpaper.”

“The way he is going out now is based on the same arrogance and disrespect towards our country. Warner is certainly not Australia’s Test captain and has never deserved one for that matter. In fact, he ended his career under a lifetime leadership ban.

“This is a ball-tampering disgrace in South Africa that many will never forget. “Does this really warrant a swansong, a last hurrah against Pakistan that was predicted just a year ago as if it was bigger than the game and the Australian cricket team?”

“After all, an international cricket career is not just about your statistical achievements with the bat or the ball. How you conducted yourself and played the game will live on long after you are gone.”

In this year’s Ashes, Warner scored only 285 runs in five Test matches at an average of 28.50. His Test average is 44.43, but has only averaged 31.79 since the start of 2020. Johnson took aim at Warner’s poor recent form in Tests as well as chief selector George Bailey.

“Yes, he has a good overall record and some people say he is one of our greatest opening batsmen. But his last three years in Test cricket have been ordinary, his batting average is so bad that even a tail-end batsman can be happy.

“Granted he scored a double century against South Africa at the MCG last summer, but those were the only runs he had scored in years. It was his only time to reach 50 in his last 17 Test innings while leading in this year’s Ashes series.

“The management of Warner in recent years, who has played with Bailey in all three formats, raises questions about whether Bailey was out of the game too early and got into the job and was too close to some players.”

–IANS

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