Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke was seemingly appalled by Mitchell Johnson’s sharp criticism directed at opener David Warner and his plans for retirement from Tests. In a column for The West Australian, Johnson attacked Warner for ‘choosing’ his farewell date while his form has been poor in the red-ball format of the game. Opining on the controversy, Clarke opened up about the camaraderie between the duo, while making another request as well.
Clarke offers insight into Johnson-Warner relations
Clarke revealed that he wasn’t sure if there was ‘any beef’ between Johnson and Warner but said that the two went hard against each other at the nets. He requested the cricketers to avoid making personal attacks while also noting that it has been a while since Johnson played and hence he wasn’t aware if the two had any differences between them.
“In every sporting team, not everybody gets on. Not everyone is best friends. Dave is a strong character, Mitch is a strong character, (they) went hard at each other in the nets,” Clarke told Big Sports Breakfast Show.
“I saw that but I couldn’t sit here and say they had beef against one another when we played. Yeah, maybe I’ve missed something here Mitch hasn’t played for years now so maybe there is beef, I don’t know.
“When you’re in a role like this, if you have an opinion and it’s based on what’s best for the team, or your experience, then go with that. But it should never be personal. I try not to make it personal and if it comes across that way you try and apologise for that because you don’t want that.”
What did Johnson say about Warner?
In a column for The West Australian, Johnson questioned the privilege of a struggling Test opener being able to choose his retirement date. Johnson, known for his strong opinions, didn’t shy away from bringing up the infamous “Sandpapergate” scandal from 2018.
David Warner, a central figure in the controversy, received a 12-month ban for his involvement.
“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why?” Johnson wrote. “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?”
Johnson criticized Warner’s perceived arrogance and disrespect towards the country, emphasizing that his farewell series echoes the same attitude. The former fast bowler even humorously suggested that fans might bring sandpaper to the farewell, referencing the scandal.
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