Johnson says that if you want to play cricket internationally, it’s not just about your stats but also about how you play the game.
David Warner has been picked to open for the first Test against Pakistan in Perth starting December 14. Mitchell Johnson, a former fast bowler for Australia, has made a harsh attack on Warner.
In a three-test series, Australia will play Pakistan in Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. Then, in Adelaide and Brisbane, they will play the West Indies.
“Is this really enough to give him a swansong, a last chance against Pakistan that was predicted a year ago as if he were bigger than the game and the Australian cricket team?” Johnson wrote this in his West Australian piece.
Johnson doesn’t like Warner’s choice, and he has slammed Warner for not coming clean about his part in the sandpaper gate scan.
“Warner has never really taken responsibility for the ball-tampering scandal, even though it’s been five years.”
“He is leaving in a way that shows more of the same pride and disrespect for our country.”
Warner has said for a long time that he wants to quit after the third Test against Pakistan in January at the SCG, which is his home ground.
Johnson has asked Warner why the selectors were letting him have a public farewell to Test cricket when he has been out of form for two years and has averaged 26.74 in his last 36 Test matches. Warner has had tough times in the UK. In the five Tests, he has only scored 285 runs, with an average of 28.50.
“What do fans have to offer Warner?” There would be no more sandpaper at Bunnings, Johnson wrote.
At the same time, Johnson says that an elite cricket player’s career is remembered not for how many runs they scored but for how they played the game.
“In the end, getting to play cricket internationally isn’t just about how well you do with the bat or the ball.” People will remember how you carried yourself and how you played the game for a long time after you’re gone.
The Australian team for the first test against Pakistan
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner