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Mitchell Johnson Lashes Out At David Warner; Here's The Unforgiving Reason

image-lpp6vrjoWarner was one of the masterminds behind ball-tampering scandal (Twitter)

Mitchell Johnson made a scathing attack on David Warner for choosing his time of retirement from Test cricket and alleged that the experienced opener has never truly owned his role and responsibility in the controversial 2018 ball-tampering scandal. 

Johnson accused Warner of "arrogance" in dictating his time of departure from the Test scene after having pre-announced his desire to call it quits via the upcoming New Year's Test against Pakistan in Sydney. The veteran left-hander had firmed up his plans for the format as early as June ahead of the Ashes 2023 in England after facing sustained heat on his form. 

Warner failed to capitalize on multiple promising starts versus the arch-rivals over five Tests and finished with an average of 28.50 over 10 innings in tough conditions. Since the beginning of January 2021, the ageing opener has averaged a disappointing 28.90 across 25 Tests and 44 innings with a career-saving MCG ton against South Africa last year being his only century in the period. 

Given how Warner has been a persistent failure at the Test level for close to three years now, former speedster Johnson and other experts have time and again questioned Australia's continuous backing provided to him, allowing him to earn a farewell Test at the iconic SCG. 

Johnson Attacks Warner Recalling Ball-Tampering Scandal 

"Does this really warrant a swansong, a last hurrah against Pakistan that was forecast a year in advance as if he was bigger than the game and the Australian cricket team?" Johnson wrote in his column for The West Australian. 

Warner was one of the masterminds behind the idea of Australia using sandpaper to rub on the cricket ball during Newlands Test against South Africa alongside the then captain Steve Smith and opener Cameron Bancroft. 

The scandal rocked the Australian cricket hard, bringing focus and attention on the culture of play established within the set-up and compelled Cricket Australia (CA) to impose a year-long disciplinary ban on the opener. 

"It’s been five years and Warner has still never really owned the ball-tampering scandal," Johnson added. "Now the way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country."