“Can someone please tell me why,” former teammate attacks David Warner, asks if he DESERVES a “hero’s send-off” 

Former Australian pacer questions David Warner's spot in the Australian Test Team as he averaged 28.91 in the past three years.

“Can someone please tell me why,” former teammate attacks David Warner, asks if he DESERVES a “hero’s send-off” 

David Warner in whites (Image via ICC)

David Warner is just a month away from retiring from Test cricket. He is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest openers, with him being an integral part of many of their recent successes. As he gears up to play his final Test series against Pakistan, his former teammate wrote a fiery article where he believes Warner does not deserve a send-off.

Mitchell Johnson, who is fondly remembered for his bowling performances in the 2013/14 Ashes, wrote an article in which he did not have kind words for the opener. In the article, Johnson claimed Warner did not deserve to decide when he could retire, adding that he did not deserve a hero’s send off due to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. 

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As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why? 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
An excerpt from Mitchell Johnson’s article on The West Australian

He believes the opener did not own up to the ball-tampering completely, saying with the way he is going out is a disrespect to their nation. He added that Warner didn’t deserve the send-off as he isn’t the Australian captain, and doesn’t deserve to be. Johnson also reminded that Warner has a life-ban from leading the Australian team. 

He also called out former captain, George Bailey, for his treatment of Tim Paine. When Paine was caught up in controversy, Bailey refused to take any actions despite being the selector. He claimed he was good friends with the keeper and hence left it to Justin Langer and fellow selector Tony Dodemaide. 

Mitchell Johnson questions David Warner’s selection 

Ever since his return from the ban, David Warner has played every Test for Australia as long as he was fit. In his first 10 matches, he scored 881 runs, with a triple century coming against Pakistan. Since then, he has failed to average above 40 in a single year. In 2023, he averaged 22.81 with only two half-centuries. 

David Warner
David Warner celebrates his century (Image via ESPN)

Mitchell Johnson further wrote:

Yes, he has a decent overall record and some say is one of our greatest opening batter. But his past three years in Test cricket have been ordinary, with a batting average closer to what a tail-ender would be happy with.

Looking at these stats, Johnson questioned his selection in the Test Team, saying he didn’t deserve to play due to his form. He says the average of his past 3 years is something a tailender would be really happy with. 

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