PAK vs AUS: Cricket Australia Cancelled Mitchell Johnson’s Guest Appearances At Perth Stadium, Believes Aussie Journalist

Australian journalist Robert Craddock believes that Cricket Australia cancelled Mitchell Johnson’s two guest appearances at Perth Cricket Stadium during AUS vs PAK 1st Test. Craddock said that Cricket Australia decided due to Mitchell Johnson’s criticisms of David Warner.

In his column for The West Australian, Mitchell Johnson criticized David Warner earlier this month. Warner is supposed to retire from Tests after the ongoing Test series against Pakistan. Mitchell Johnson’s criticisms of David Warner became a highlight in Australian cricket.

David Warner’s fans were not happy with Johnson’s words, who targeted Warner over his involvement in the Sandpaper Gate scandal and his place in the Test side. The event also forced former cricketers and experts to enter the matter and express their opinions.

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Cricket Australia Cancelled Mitchell Johnson’s Two Appearances At Perth Stadium- Australia Journalist

While speaking to SEN 1170 Breakfast, veteran Australian journalist Robert Craddock said that Mitchell Johnson was expected to make two appearances at Perth Cricket Stadium during the PAK vs AUS 1st Test. However, the events were cancelled by Cricket Australia.

“I believe it was Cricket Australia’s call, however, I do believe it was done to short-circuit any chance that the players would blow up about it. I didn’t think they would have, I really don’t. I don’t even think they’d have found out about it. There’s so much happening in a Test match with speakers coming and going that if Mitchell Johnson comes in a room”.

“The other thing about Johnson is don’t underestimate his smartness and sensibilities, to be able to read the room and say, ‘I stand by what I said, but I got a bit personal and I regret that’. Some people call that entertainment. We live in a world in such political correctness,” Robert Craddock said.

Robert Craddock also added that if Johnson’s criticisms were limited to stats, it would have been fair enough. However, the former Aussie pacer became a little personal so Cricket Australia cancelled his functions at Perth.

“Mitchell Johnson of course had a volcanic column criticising David Warner and George Bailey. Had it just been on stats and limited to man versus stats, it would have been fair enough. But it became a little bit personal so Cricket Australia thought it was a bad look to then celebrate Johnson by having him as a guest at two functions in Perth”, he further added.

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David Warner Shattered Ton In AUS vs PAK 1st Test

After Mitchell Johnson’s column became a heated topic, he appeared on a podcast on The Mitchell Johnson Cricket Show where he defended his opinions. He had questioned David Warner’s spot in the playing XI for the Test series against Pakistan.

However, David Warner gave an impressive reply to Johnson’s criticisms with his century in the PAK vs AUS 1st Test at Perth Cricket Stadium. Warner shattered a 164-run knock in the 1st innings to drive Australia to a mammoth total of 487-10 in 1st innings. He got out for a duck in the 2nd inning.

However, it is not wrong to say that Warner’s 164-run knock set the tone for Australia‘s victory in the match. After bowling out Pakistan for 271-10 in 1st innings, Australia declared 2nd innings at 233-5. Pakistan was helpless against a mammoth target of 450 and was bowled out for just 89. They lost the match by a huge margin of 360 runs.