David Warner's impending retirement has started to create some drama, with former teammate Mitchell Johnson launching a scathing attack over the weekend.
The 37-year-old is set to bow out at the conclusion of the third Test against Pakistan this summer, ending a storied career in the red-ball international arena, but is expected to remain part of the ODI and T20 setup.
Warner has struggled for form in Test cricket in recent years, but was named as part of the 14-man Australian squad for the upcoming series beginning on December 14th.
However, it appears not everyone is happy with Warner's swansong on home soil, with the retired quick bringing up the 2018 ball-tampering saga in his recent newspaper column.
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Mitchell Johnson slams David Warner, George Bailey responds
In his recent article for The West Australian, Johnson labelled the opening batsman as 'arrogant' and believes his performances over the past three years haven't warranted a selection.
“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,” he said.
“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why? Warner certainly isn’t Australia’s Test captain and never deserved to be... 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... 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."
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Johnson and Warner played together during the early stages of the latter's career, dominating England in the 2013 Ashes series before the ferocious left-arm quick stepped aside in 2015.
His critique didn't stop with Warner either, raising question marks over national selector George Bailey and his relationship with the playing group.
“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 said.
"[He] seems to have moved to be a part of the inner sanctum, rather than standing aside from it”.
Warner has yet to respond to the public scolding, but Bailey fronted the media on Sunday following the selection of the Test squad and shut down Johnson's claims.
“I’ve been sent little snippets of it... I hope he’s okay," Bailey said.
“We still think he’s in our best eleven players to win the first Test... we think David is the right person for this Test.
“Clearly Dave would like to get through the series and finish up in Sydney, and we fully respect that.
“We’ve been pretty consistent around the fact that with any player, it’s how they perform as an individual, and how that performance actually fits into the function of the team, and that won’t change.
"Not specific to Dave, but I think all players, it’s about performing and how that fits into the team that will determine the make-up of a side in any given Test.
“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 their team and the coaching staff, how that’s more beneficial, I’d be all ears.”
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'Heroes in my mind': Usman Khawaja defends David Warner
Warner's opening Test partner, Usman Khawaja, has publicly defended his teammate at a Brisbane Heat media conference on Monday.
The 36-year-old indicated he had only read parts of Johnson's column, but made strong comments in support of Warner.
"I was there [for Sandpapergate]," Khawaja said.
"I saw the toll it took on Steve Smith and David Warner. It was massive. These guys were at the top of their games in international cricket.
"Warner and Smith are heroes in my mind. They missed a year of cricket through dark times.
"No one’s perfect. Mitchell Johnson’s not perfect.
"What they have done for the game – how they have grown the game – far outweighs anything else they have done.
“To say Warner or anyone else involved in sandpaper [gate] is not a hero ... I strongly disagree because they have paid their dues. A year out of cricket is a long time.’"
Michael Clarke lifts lid on Mitchell Johnson-David Warner beef
A man who worked with both Warner and Johnson closely during their careers is former captain Michael Clarke, who led the pair for a number of years and had unique relationships with both.
On his morning radio show, Big Sports Breakfast, Clarke gave his take on Johnson's comments and believes former players need to tread the line between genuine criticism and personal attacks.
“In every sporting team - not everybody gets on. Not everyone is best friends. Dave is a strong character, Mitch is a strong character, [they] went hard at each other in the nets," he said.
“I saw that but I couldn’t sit here and say they had beef against one another when we played. Maybe I’ve missed something here... Mitch hasn’t played for years now so maybe there is beef, I don’t know.
“When you’re in a role like this - if you have an opinion and it’s based on what’s best for the team, or your experience, then go with that - but it should never be personal.
"I try not to make it personal and if it comes across that way, you try and apologise."
While many within the game - both fans and players - have expressed their disdain for Clarke in the past, there is perhaps no better person to comment on two men who worked closely with him for an extended period.
Former head coach of the Test side, Darren Lehmann, said on RSN that both players should attempt to settle their differences, while admitting Warner needed to step up against Pakistan on the pitch.
“He [Johnson] has a bit to say and it has been an interesting 24 to 48 hours," he said.
“I suppose that is what you have got to do as a journalist sometimes. If you go into that field, you have to have an opinion. He has his thoughts and penned them in a paper and that makes different reading for different people.
“Mitch has been involved in the set up for a long period of time. He sort of knows what is going on. Whether you agree with it or not, it is his opinion and he is entitled to that.
“I think they would like to get him [Warner] to Sydney and let him retire on his own terms, go out and in his home Test match, but having said that... he has to get some runs to make that happen.
"If he does that and gets there, then good on him. He has had a fantastic career.”
Australia first Test squad vs Pakistan
| Pat Cummins (c) | Scott Boland |
| Alex Carey | Cameron Green |
| Josh Hazlewood | Travis Head |
| Usman Khawaja | Marnus Labuschagne |
| Nathan Lyon | Mitchell Marsh |
| Lance Morris | Steve Smith |
| Mitchell Starc | David Warner |