Mitchell Johnson, a former Australian pacer, hit seasoned batsman David Warner with a savage blow. Johnson questioned why, in light of his role in the 2018 ball-tampering incident, Warner is being given a hero’s sendoff from Test cricket. It’s important to note that Warner is part of Australia’s team for what would likely be their final home Test series against Pakistan.
The former pacer continued by stating that he was not nominated to declare his own retirement date despite his recent performance in red-ball cricket. Moreover, Joshnson believes that he is not deserving of a hero’s farewell given his role in the Sandpaper Gate.
“Even after five years, David Warner hasn’t truly taken responsibility for the ball-tampering controversy. Johnson said in his West Australian column that “the way he is going out is now based on more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country.”
“Can someone kindly explain why we are getting ready for David Warner’s farewell series? Why a faltering Test captain is allowed to choose when to quit Furthermore, he asked, “And why does a player at the center of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history deserve a hero’s send-off?”
David Warner has never deserved to be Australia’s Test captain and isn’t one at all. Mitchell Johnson
Johnson also said that Warner’s three years as Australia’s captain were nothing special and that he never deserved to be in that position.
“Warner doesn’t deserve to be Australia’s Test captain and isn’t one at all. He is actually barred from leadership for life after his career ends. Indeed, he has a respectable record overall, and some consider him to be among our best opening batters. However, Johnson noted, “His batting average over the last three years in Test cricket has been ordinary, more akin to what a tail-ender would be happy with.”
“Many people will never forget the scandal of South Africa’s ball-tampering. David Warner loved to exploit his perceived authority as a “leader,” even though he wasn’t the only senior member of the team at the time of Sandpapergate. Is this truly worthy of a farewell match against Pakistan, which was predicted a year in advance as though he was greater than both the sport and the Australian cricket team?
“Yes, he hit his first double century at the MCG against South Africa last summer, but those were the first runs he had scored in a long time. That was the only occasion in his previous 17 Test innings leading up to this year’s Ashes series that he had scored fifty runs,” he continued.