'Can Somebody Please Tell me Why?': Mitchell Johnson's Scathing Attack on David Warner Warranting a Hero's Send Off

Veteran pacer Mitchell Johnson has questioned David Warner’s place in the Australia Test team for the upcoming Pakistan series. Warner is expected to bid adieu to red-ball cricket as the Pakistan Tests are touted as his farewell series. However, Johnson is not very pleased with it and lashes out at the decision to give Warner the liberty to choose his farewell series.

The swashbuckling opener has not been at his best when it comes to Test cricket in recent times as he scored 1399 runs in 26 matches at an average of 31.79 since 2020. During this period he managed to register the triple-digit scores only twice. Meanwhile, he continues to produce big runs for Australia in the limited-overs format as he played a pivotal role in their sixth World Cup triumph recently.

Johnson, who is very vocal about his opinions, pointed out Warner’s struggling form in recent times while talking about the upcoming series being labelled as his farewell.

“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why?” Johnson wrote in an explosive column for The West Australian. “Why a struggling Test opener gets to nominate his own retirement date.”

Johnson also talked about the sandpaper scandal in which Warner was involved and served a year ban alongside Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft (9-month) ban.

“And 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.

The former paceman didn’t stop there and asked what would fans bring for Warner for his farewell Test.

“Now the way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country. What will fans bring for Warner? Bunnings would sell out of sandpaper,” he wrote.

Johnson said a player’s career can not be judged only by his statistical achievements but also how he conducted on the field.

“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.