Before retiring to play Test cricket against Pakistan, Mitchell Johnson, a former player, wrote a critical piece condemning the opener for being given a hero’s send-off. The 42-year-old stated that he doesn’t think the cricket player should be viewed as a hero because the southpaw never truly accepted responsibility for his error after the ball-tampering incident in South Africa in 2017.
Usman Khawaja, the opener, and top selector George Bailey, on the other hand, criticized Johnson and backed Warner, which forced the former bowler to explain the issue. Talking on his own podcast, Johnson revealed that he got a “pretty bad” text from the 37-year-old earlier in the year after the latter published a piece criticizing David Warner play and his wife Candice Warner‘s outspoken defense of her husband’s starting position.
Mitchell Johnson continued by saying that he tried to speak with David Warner about it but that the other party did not adequately respond. The cricket player, who was born in Queensland, went on to say that rather than confronting him in front of the media, he expects anyone who disagrees with his writing or remarks to come talk to him.
Dave sent me a note that was very private. I made an attempt to call him and try to talk to him about it; I’ve always been willing to listen. When I finished playing, I knew that I was being honest with the guys. I told them to come talk to me if they saw anything I was writing or saying in the media that they didn’t like.
Up until this moment, it had never been a personal matter. This, I believe, was also a contributing factor in my motivation for writing the piece. It undoubtedly played a role. I won’t say some of the things that were expressed in that. If Dave wants to talk about it, I believe he should say it. Johnson stated on his show that “there was some stuff in there that was pretty bad to be honest, and what he said was really disappointing.”
Mitchell Johnson found Bailey’s remarks repulsive.
Johnson, however, took issue with Bailey’s remark that she hoped he was okay. He said it’s quite repulsive that the former captain of Australia would discuss his mental health.
“To ask if I’m okay because I’ve had mental health issues is pretty much downplaying my article and putting it on mental health, which is quite disgusting, I think,” Johnson stated.
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