"Seems Very Childish" - Mitchell Johnson Blasts George Bailey For "Disgusting" Dig On His Mental Health

Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson lashed out at chief selector George Bailey for defending David Warner amid a tiff between the two. The left-arm pacer said that it was childish behavior from Bailey.

Mitchell Johnson raised quite a few eyebrows after his column in West Australian. He hit out at veteran opener David Warner, saying that he doesn’t deserve a hero send-off as he was part of the sandpapergate scandal. He stated that a non-performing Test opener shouldn’t get to decide when he will end his career. 

Following Mitchell Johnson’s comment, chief selector George Bailey came in David Warner’s defense. He said that the former Australian pacer wouldn’t have been in the right mental space and shouldn’t comment until he is in the same spot. 

However, days after that Mitchell Johnson reacted to George Bailey’s comment. He said that by questioning his mental health, the chief selector downplayed his article, which was disgusting. Johnson added that Bailey had no answers to the questions asked by him and hence he put the blame on his mental health. Speaking on The Mitchell Johnson Podcast, he stated: 

“To ask if I’m OK because I’ve had mental health issues is pretty much downplaying my article and putting it on mental health, which is quite disgusting I think. I’m fine. I’m not angry. I’m not jealous. I’m just writing a piece that for me, I felt like I needed to write. 

“It’s basically having a dig at someone’s mental health and saying that I must have something going on – a mental health issue has made me say what I’ve said. It sort of tries to downplay the questions that I’ve asked in that article… It seems very childish from George and condescending.” 

The handling of David Warner in recent years depicts George Bailey is close to some players – Mitchell Johnson 

Mitchell Johnson while targeting Geroge Bailey brought Tim Paine’s sexting scandal in between, saying that the selector then didn’t comment on it because he was his close friend. Johnson also added that the way Bailey has handled David Warner over the last few years raises questions about him. He explained: 

“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.” 

Mitchell Johnson’s comments have left many surprised and have earned many reactions. However, David Warner is yet to react to it. It remains to be seen what more unfolds in this controversy.