“Warner rode his luck early on,” Mitchell Johnson claims his controversial column is still valid despite David Warner’s century against Pakistan

Mitchell Johnson claimed he wasn't surprised that David Warner scored a Test century against a weak team like Pakistan on home conditions.

“Warner rode his luck early on,” Mitchell Johnson claims his controversial column is still valid despite David Warner’s century against Pakistan

David Warner and Mitchell Johnson celebrate Virat Kohli's wicket in 2014 (Image via ESPN)

Just days before David Warner played his final Test series against Pakistan, Mitchell Johnson wrote an explosive column on Warner’s terrible form and his role in the 2018 sandpaper gate scandal. He claimed Warner didn’t deserve a “hero’s send-off” and they should have dropped him from the team earlier. 

Now Warner started off the series with an impressive century, with him celebrating it with the “shush” sign. He got out for a duck in the next innings, with debutant Khurram Shahzad picking up his wicket. Regarding his performance, The West Australian published another column by Mitchell Johnson.

YouTube video

Despite the century, Johnson claims his opinion on Warner was still valid, stating that he brought his best in home conditions against a weak team. He also added the Australian team should’ve tried new openers against weaker teams like West Indies and Pakistan. Johnson said Warner “rode his luck” in the first innings, but failed in the 2nd innings. 

On day one, Warner rode his luck early on — and it could have gone either way — and you take that and he went on to make 164. He did what he was paid to do in the first innings before Saturday’s duck in the second innings. Warner may have denied he cares about criticism of his form, but it definitely does drive him as shown in his performance in the first innings.
Mitchell Johnson on David Warner

Pakistan go 16 matches without a Test win in Australia 

With Australia’s win in the first Test, they go one up in the series. The Australian win also marks Pakistan’s 16 consecutive loss on Australian soil since 1995. They have toured Australia 5 times since 1995 and have been whitewashed each series. 

Australian Test team (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

In the first Test, the inexperienced Pakistan bowling attack were hammered for 487 runs, while debutants Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shahzad were the only players to show some fight. The duo picked up 6 and 2 wickets each. The Australians had no trouble bundling Pakistan for 271. Despite having the option to make Pakistan follow on, they batted and set a target of 450 runs. 

The disappointing Pakistan team were bundled out for 89 runs, with Nathan Lyon getting his 500th Test wicket. Pakistan and Australia will now travel to Melbourne to play the Boxing Day Test match in the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

In case you missed!