Former Australia batter and current chief selector, George Bailey, has firmly responded to Mitchell Johnson’s recent criticism of David Warner’s farewell Test match against Pakistan. Johnson, the former pacer, questioned why Warner, who has been involved in notable scandals in Australian cricket, deserved a farewell Test. The upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan is slated to be Warner’s last.
Expressing his disagreement with Johnson’s comments, Bailey defended Warner’s desire to conclude his Test career in Sydney, his home ground. The chief selector emphasized that Johnson might be distant and unaware of the players’ experiences and the team’s plans.
“I’ve been sent little snippets of it. I hope he’s OK. I’ve got no idea [if he is]. My only observation would be if someone can show me how being distant and unaware of what players are going through and what the plans are with the team and with the coaching staff, how that’s more beneficial, I’d be all ears,” Bailey stated, as per West Australian on Mitchell Johnson’s critique of David Warner.
Mitchell Johnson also lashed George Bailey
Mitchell Johnson did not reserve his criticism solely for Warner, as he also took a swipe at George Bailey for being too close to some players. Referring to Bailey’s association with then-captain Tim Paine during the sexting controversy, Johnson questioned whether Bailey’s proximity to certain players influenced the decision-making process.
“When then-captain Tim Paine’s career was ending over the sexting controversy, chairman of selectors George Bailey said he didn’t want to be part of deciding Paine’s fate because the pair were close friends. The handling of Warner in recent years, who played with Bailey in all three forms, raises the question of whether Bailey was simply too quickly out of playing and into the job and too close to some of the players,” Johnson remarked.
David Warner, who has featured in 109 Test matches for Australia, accumulating 8487 runs at an average of 44.33, has left an indelible mark on the longest format of the game with 25 centuries and 36 half-centuries.
As discussions around his farewell Test intensify, George Bailey’s response underscores the complexities of decision-making within the cricketing fraternity.
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