Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has vowed to settle his hatchet with David Warner ahead of the opening test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Perth. This is in response to Johnson’s controversial comments in his West Australian column regarding Warner’s test retirement in December last year.
Johnson questioned Warner’s place in the test team for his farewell series against West Indies, despite his underwhelming form. He also lambasted selectors for awarding a heroic send-off for Warner, despite him being a main perpetrator in sandpaper gate scandal.
“It’s been five years and David Warner has still never really owned the ball-tampering scandal,” Johnson wrote. “Now the way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country.”
“Why a struggling Test opener gets to nominate his own retirement date. And why a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrants a hero’s send-off?” he added.
In response, Warner told reporters that everyone is entitled for their opinions and felt that he is focusing on the positive support from most people for his final test series. As a result of his comments, Johnson was sacked from commentary duties for the West Indies series.
Both former cricketers are set to be doing respective commentary duties for the much-awaited series. Johnson will work for Triple M, while Warner will be joining Foxtel. Ahead of the series, Johnson said (via The West Australian):
“We’re adults. You move on. You live our own lives, and we all cross paths at some point.”
“It’s not about it’s not about us now we’re in the commentary box — we’re there to give insight. I’ve even mentioned that some of his insight, I’ve agreed with in recent times, he’s going to always be one of those characters that goes harder and you say what he feels,” he added.
Mitchell Johnson desires to see Virat Kohli’s hundred in BGT
Mitchell Johnson expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli’s impressive record in Australia. The 36-year-old has garnered over 1,300 runs at an average of 54.08 in 13 Tests Down Under.
Johnson feels Kohli will be under pressure due to his bad form ahead of the series. But, the 43-year-old thinks Kohli may get inspired by the strong Australian challenge and score a century.
“I wonder if he will be inspired by the situation or if it is too much for him to counter. I would like to see him score a hundred in Australia,” Johnson wrote in his column for The West Australian.
Further, Johnson disclosed that he noticed a significant change in the mindset of the Indian team from the 2014-15 edition, where they wanted to beat Australia. The former pacer wants the BGT 2024-25 to be played with aggression and fire, with WTC spots on the line.
