'Mitchell Johnson Is Not A Selector...'- David Warner's Manager Hits Back

David Warner’s manager slammed former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson for his remarks targeting the Australian opener with his farewell in Test cricket coming up over in a three-match Test series against Pakistan in December 2023.

Mitchell Johnson did not mince his words in questioning Warner’s farewell and recalled his involvement in the infamous Sandpaper Gate saga. Johnson also raised questions about Warner’s place in the test team. He believes that given Warner’s poor record in the last few years, he does not deserve a spot in the test squad.

“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why? Why does a struggling Test opener get to nominate his own retirement date? And why is a player at the center of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrants a hero’s send-off,” Johnson wrote in his column for West Australian.

“Although Warner wasn’t alone in Sandpapergate, he was at the time a senior member of the team and someone who liked to use his perceived power as a ‘leader. “Now the way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country. What will fans bring for Warner? Bunnings would sell out of sandpaper,” Johnson added.

David Warner’s Manager Replies Critically To Johnson’s Comments

Warner’s manager, James Eriksine went all guns ablaze slamming Mitchell Johnson. He claimed that it was a ploy to get a headline. James Eriksine stated that Warner’s selection was only logical and that Johnson is not a selector to just barge in with his opinion.

“Let me tell you, anyone can get a headline. The fact is [Warner’s selection] is just logical. The three [replacement] candidates will be [Matthew] Renshaw, [Cameron] Bancroft – who has played pretty well in the Sheffield Shield – and [Marcus] Harris. Now they’ve all had spells opening the batting for Australia. David is in good form. Thank God Mitchell Johnson isn’t a Test selector,” Eriksine told the Syndey Morning Herald.

David Warner has had a terrible year with the red ball. In 2023, Warner has played nine test matches and has managed to score only 365 runs at an average of 22.81. Since 2020, David Warner has scored only two centuries in test cricket which shows the decline of Warner in the red-ball format. David Warner has indeed lost his touch in the longest format of the game but just for his contributions, he does deserve a farewell match.