New Delhi: Mitchell Johnson is facing massive criticism on social media after Warner hit his 49th International century in the 1st Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Optus Stadium in Perth, on December 14. Former Australian pacer recently criticised Warner for getting an opportunity to nominate his retirement match despite having a history of being involved in the infamous sandpaper incident.
“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?” wrote Johnson in his column for ‘The 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”. It’s been five years and David Warner has still never really owned the ball-tampering scandal. What will fans bring for Warner? Bunnings would sell out of sandpaper.”
Mitch Johnson criticizes Warner as a “useless player” in Tests, questioning the hero treatment and farewell series post the sandpaper incident.
But the celebration from warner says it all #MitchellJohnson #DavidWarner #AUSvsPAK #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/qXqzkvyMyf
— Rahul Agarwal (@ImRa1999) December 14, 2023
Mitchell Johnson after David Warner gets *100. #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/E4KMCtVQlK
— Lakshay Koli (@LakshayKoli44) December 14, 2023
This was for Mitchell Johnson.#PAKvAUS #جاگ_گیا_سارا_پاکستان #PSL9Draft #GazaWar pic.twitter.com/nwNiO7XHWR
— Abuzar Hafeez Malik (@malikabuzar28) December 14, 2023
“Now the way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country. Warner certainly isn’t Australia’s Test captain and never deserved to be for that matter. In fact, he ends his career under a lifetime leadership ban.”
“It’s the ball-tampering disgrace in South Africa that many will never forget. Does this really warrant a swansong, a last hurrah against Pakistan that was forecast a year in advance as if he was bigger than the game and the Australian cricket team,” Johnson added in the column.
Warner came back at all his critics following the much-awaited red-ball century against Pakistan at the famous Optus Stadium. He said “It’s my job is to come here and score runs, it was good to get a partnership with Uzzie. (On his century) It does feel great, it’s about putting runs on the board for the bowlers. No better way to silence the critics than by putting runs on the board.”
Mitchell Johnson is getting heavily trolled across the social space. Warner fans are hitting back at the pacer following this crucial knock. This series against Pakistan is the final red-ball series for Warner. The opener will hang his whites after this series.