Xtra Time Web Desk: Senior Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson launched a scathing attack on David Warner getting an opportunity to play his farewell test series at home against Pakistan. Johnson in his column for The West Australian lashed out at the decision to give Warner the liberty to choose his farewell series.
Warner has struggled in the longer format in recent times, scoring 1399 runs in 26 tests at an average of 31.79. Since 2020, the swashbuckling Aussie opener has scored only two hundreds.
“Why a struggling Test opener gets to nominate his own retirement date,” Johnson wrote in his column.
Johnson also brought back the sandpaper scandal in which Warner was involved and served a year ban alongside Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft (9-month) ban.
“Why a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrants a hero’s send-off?” Johnson questioned.
“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’,” Johnson wrote.
“Ultimately, an international cricket career is not just about your statistical achievements with bat or ball. How you held yourself and how you played the game will live long after you depart,” said the former Aussie quick.
The National Selection Panel headed by George Bailey has picked a strong 14-member Australian squad for the first test against Pakistan at Perth.
Here is the Australian test squad:
Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club) (c)
Scott Boland (VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club)
Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club)
Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
Usman Khawaja (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club)
Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club)
Nathan Lyon (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club)
Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club)
Lance Morris (WA/Scarborough Cricket Club)
Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)
Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)
David Warner (NSW/Randwick Petersham Cricket Club)