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‘Arrogance and disrespect’: Johnson lashes former teammates Warner, Bailey
Former Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson has unleashed against ex-teammates David Warner and George Bailey, questioning why Warner is getting a Test farewell and accusing him of not owning up to his role in the ball-tampering scandal.
Writing for The West Australian, Johnson said Warner’s form did not warrant a nomination of his own retirement date and implied that Warner’s involvement in the ball-tampering scandal of 2018 meant he did not deserve a “hero’s send-off”.
Warner has been named in a 14-man squad alongside recalled fast bowler Lance Morris for the series against Pakistan, which begins in Perth later this month.
“It’s been five years and David Warner has still never really owned the ball-tampering scandal. Now the way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country,” Johnson wrote.
“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why?
“Why a struggling Test opener gets to nominate his own retirement date. And why a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrants a hero’s send-off?
“Warner certainly isn’t Australia’s Test captain and never deserved to be for that matter. In fact, he ends his career under a lifetime leadership ban.
“Yes, he has a decent overall record and some say is one of our greatest opening bats. But his past three years in Test cricket have been ordinary, with a batting average closer to what a tail-ender would be happy with.
“It’s the ball-tampering disgrace in South Africa that many will never forget. Although Warner wasn’t alone in Sandpapergate, he was at the time a senior member of the team and someone who liked to use his perceived power as a ‘leader’.
“Does this really warrant a swansong, a last hurrah against Pakistan that was forecast a year in advance as if he was bigger than the game and the Australian cricket team?”
Warner declined to comment when contacted by this masthead.
Bailey was asked about Johnson’s comments at a press conference for the announcement of the Test squad for Perth on Sunday.
“I’ve been sent little snippets of it – I hope he’s OK. I’ve got no idea [if he is],” Bailey said of Johnson.
In his column, Johnson also questioned why Warner was selected, given his recent Test-match form.
“Granted he made his double century against South Africa at the MCG last summer, but they were the only runs he had scored in years. Leading into this year’s Ashes series that was the only time he had reached 50 in his previous 17 Test innings,” he wrote.
“When then-captain Tim Paine’s career was ending over the sexting controversy, chairman of selectors George Bailey said he didn’t want to be part of deciding Paine’s fate because the pair were close friends.
“Bailey said he would leave it to then coach Justin Langer and fellow selector Tony Dodemaide to work it out.
“The handling of Warner in recent years, who played with Bailey in all three forms, raises the question of whether Bailey was simply too quickly out of playing and into the job and too close to some of the players.”
Johnson also wrote that the role of the head selector “seems to have moved to be a part of the inner sanctum, rather than standing aside from it”.
Asked about accusations of being too close to the team, Bailey replied: “My only observation would be if someone can show me how being distant and unaware of what players are going through and what the plans are with the team and with the coaching staff – how that’s more beneficial – I’d be all ears.”
Former Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson has unleashed against ex-teammates David Warner and George Bailey, questioning why Warner is getting a Test farewell and accusing him of not owning up to his role in the ball-tampering scandal.
Writing for The West Australian, Johnson said Warner’s form did not warrant a nomination of his own retirement date and implied that Warner’s involvement in the ball-tampering scandal of 2018 meant he did not deserve a “hero’s send-off”.
Warner has been named in a 14-man squad alongside recalled fast bowler Lance Morris for the series against Pakistan, which begins in Perth later this month.
“It’s been five years and David Warner has still never really owned the ball-tampering scandal. Now the way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country,” Johnson wrote.
“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why?
“Why a struggling Test opener gets to nominate his own retirement date. And why a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrants a hero’s send-off?
“Warner certainly isn’t Australia’s Test captain and never deserved to be for that matter. In fact, he ends his career under a lifetime leadership ban.
“Yes, he has a decent overall record and some say is one of our greatest opening bats. But his past three years in Test cricket have been ordinary, with a batting average closer to what a tail-ender would be happy with.
“It’s the ball-tampering disgrace in South Africa that many will never forget. Although Warner wasn’t alone in Sandpapergate, he was at the time a senior member of the team and someone who liked to use his perceived power as a ‘leader’.
“Does this really warrant a swansong, a last hurrah against Pakistan that was forecast a year in advance as if he was bigger than the game and the Australian cricket team?”
Warner declined to comment when contacted by this masthead.
Bailey was asked about Johnson’s comments at a press conference for the announcement of the Test squad for Perth on Sunday.
“I’ve been sent little snippets of it – I hope he’s OK. I’ve got no idea [if he is],” Bailey said of Johnson.
In his column, Johnson also questioned why Warner was selected, given his recent Test-match form.
“Granted he made his double century against South Africa at the MCG last summer, but they were the only runs he had scored in years. Leading into this year’s Ashes series that was the only time he had reached 50 in his previous 17 Test innings,” he wrote.
“When then-captain Tim Paine’s career was ending over the sexting controversy, chairman of selectors George Bailey said he didn’t want to be part of deciding Paine’s fate because the pair were close friends.
“Bailey said he would leave it to then coach Justin Langer and fellow selector Tony Dodemaide to work it out.
“The handling of Warner in recent years, who played with Bailey in all three forms, raises the question of whether Bailey was simply too quickly out of playing and into the job and too close to some of the players.”
Johnson also wrote that the role of the head selector “seems to have moved to be a part of the inner sanctum, rather than standing aside from it”.
Asked about accusations of being too close to the team, Bailey replied: “My only observation would be if someone can show me how being distant and unaware of what players are going through and what the plans are with the team and with the coaching staff – how that’s more beneficial – I’d be all ears.”
‘Arrogance and disrespect’: Johnson lashes former teammates Warner, Bailey
Mitchell Johnson has unleashed against ex-teammates David Warner and George Bailey, questioning why Warner is getting a Test farewell and accusing him of not owning up to his role in the ball-tampering scandal.
www.smh.com.au