Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson revealed that a ‘personal’ message from David Warner prompted his scathing attack on the opener over his Test farewell. He expressed that he has asked the right questions ahead of Australia’s home Test series against Pakistan.
In his recent column for The Western Australia, Mitchell Johnson lashed out at David Warner. He asked if the left-handed batter deserved a farewell from Test cricket. He also spoke about David Warner’s involvement in the Sandpaper scandal. Johnson has revealed the reason behind his attack on the Australian batter.
During his podcast The Mitchell Johnson Cricket Show, he revealed that he received a ‘pretty bad’ and ‘disappointing’ text message from Warner earlier this year. The message was in response to Johnson’s column questioning the public defence of Warner’s place in the Test squad from his wife Candice Warner.
“I got a message from Dave, which was quite personal,” Johnson said.
“Tried to ring to try and talk to him about it, which I’ve always been open to. I know I’ve been open to the guys when I finished playing. I said if I’m in the media and writing things or saying things that you don’t like, just come and speak to me.”
There was some stuff in there that was extremely disappointing: Mitchell Johnson
Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson further expressed that David Warner’s messages drove him to write the article. He added that some of the things that he wrote, he wouldn’t have, otherwise. Johnson’s remarks on Warner came as a surprise for many, including former skipper Michael Clarke.
“It was never a personal thing then until this point. This is probably what drove me to write the article as well, part of it. It was definitely a factor. Some of the stuff that was said in that, I won’t say it. I think that’s up to Dave to say it if he wants to talk about it. There was some stuff in there that was extremely disappointing, what he said, and pretty bad to be honest,” said Mitchell Johnson.
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