David Warner and Mitchell Johnson are set for a classic showdown amid simmering tension between the two cricketers. The two Australian cricketers went from friends to enemies after Johnson began making personal criticisms of Warner after Cricket Australia decided to award Warner a farewell series.
David Warner will reportedly retire from Test cricket after playing the SCG Test against Pakistan. Johnson, for his part, spoke about Warner’s involvement in the sandpapergate scandal in the Cape Town Test against South Africa in 2018. Warner along with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were banned by the ICC for a substantial period of time. While Smith and Warner were suspended for 12 months, Bancroft was suspended for nine months.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Johnson has revealed his availability as a commentator for the first Test in Perth from December 14-18. Therefore, it is more than likely that the two Australian cricketers will face each other and the outcome of the same keeps the fans excited with anticipation.
The Daily Mail in a report confirmed that Johnson, who was eliminated by the Triple M broadcast, will be part of the commentary box for the first Test between Australia and Pakistan. Meanwhile, fans are shocked to know the differences between the two Australian cricketers. Johnson reportedly received a “pretty bad” message from Warner that was “pretty personal.” Johnson claimed that the basis of his criticism of Warner originated in a text message he received in April, following another article he had written.
Also Read: Mumbai Indians reportedly targeting Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc – Sanjay Manjrekar
In that article, Johnson questioned Warner’s performance in Test matches and his wife Candice Warner’s public defense of her husband’s Test position on the Fox Sports television show The Back Page. The differences between the two cricketers increased with time and reached a boiling point.
I always questioned things and had a different thought process: Mitchell Johnson on David Warner
“It feels like it fits. The selectors have talked about choosing guys who are fit. If you look at David’s form, because the article is about him. His form in England was not very good. So in a way, you don’t choose someone who is fit. I have also written good articles about David. I have always said that I am a very different thinker. I am not a traditional cricketer. I didn’t play much when I was young. I didn’t grow up with it as much as others. I always questioned things and had a different thought process,” Johnson said of Warner.
While Jonhson retired from international cricket in August 2018, Warner is still going strong having been part of the World Cup-winning Australian team at the ICC World Cup 2023.
Also Read: Irfan Pathan names foreign players RCB can acquire in IPL 2024 auction
