David Warner has opened up on Mitchell Johnson’s criticism of his retirement plans, saying his former teammate is entitled to his opinions, however scathing.
Warner refusing to add fuel to the fire comes as Australian captain Pat Cummins says the Test team would be “fiercely protective” of the veteran opener in the face of external attacks.
Warner is hoping to call time on an illustrious Test career after Australia faces Pakistan on his home deck at the SCG in the third and final match of the series that begins in Perth next week.
But in a newspaper column at the weekend, Johnson questioned whether Warner had been in strong enough form to set his own retirement date and opened up old wounds by referencing his role in the “Sandpapergate” ball-tampering saga.
David Warner of Australia reacts during warm up prior to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023 Semi Final match between South Africa and Australia at Eden Gardens on November 16, 2023 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
The retired quick has been roundly condemned for the extent of his critique, which included suggesting that “Bunnings would sell out of sandpaper” in the lead-up to the mooted retirement Test.
But Warner himself laughed the comments off as he addressed them for the first time.
“It wouldn’t be a summer without a headline, would it?” he said at the launch of Fox Cricket’s summer coverage in Parramatta on Friday.
“It is what it is. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions.
“Moving forward, we’re looking forward to a nice Test over in the west.”
Since the summer of 2020/21, Warner has managed only one Test century from 25 matches – a memorable double-hundred against South Africa in his 100th Test at the MCG in late 2022.
Australian selectors have stuck by Warner amid the lean stretch, which has admittedly featured two dismissals in the 90s, and are in the midst of determining his replacement beyond Sydney.
The playing group has been just as supportive in recent days.
“I think we protect each other a lot,” Cummins said.
“We’ve been through a lot over the years, our boys. Someone like Davey or Steve (Smith), I’ve played with them for a dozen years now so we’re fiercely protective of each other.
“Sometimes you’ve got to remind yourself of the amount of positive support that is out there.”
Warner, focused on ending his career on a high, said he learned long ago to knuckle down in the face of criticism like Johnson’s.
“My parents ingrained that into me,” he said.
“They taught me every day to fight and work hard.
“When you go onto the world stage and you don’t realise what comes with that, it’s a lot of media, a lot of criticism but a lot of positive.
“I think what’s more important is what you see here today, the people coming out to support cricket.”
Cummins is hopeful Australia can move past the saga ahead of their first home match since a successful winter that yielded wins in the ODI World Cup and World Test Championship finals as well as a drawn Ashes series in England.
The Perth Test is also set to mark Nathan Lyon’s return from the calf injury he suffered early in the Ashes.
“We’ve had arguably our most successful year ever. We’re going into a really exciting summer,” Cummins said.
“There’s so many positive things around Australian cricket I think we should be talking about and we’re focusing on that (Johnson’s column).”
The Bishop
Roar Rookie
Warner was cool, calm etc under the FoxSport glare of soft, friendly questions from that fearless sports journo Alysha Healy. Would have liked to have been Robert Craddock, Gideon Haigh or that late, great Patrick Smith doing the interview.
ColinT
Roar Rookie
My respect for Warner has grown enormously since the SA tour. Faced with a barrage of sanctimonious and hypocritical negative criticism, vile attacks on his wife’s character and an unrelenting campaign of hatred on social media he has, through it all, stayed positive and resisted the temptation to engage with the despicable keyboard warriors and other critics intent on bringing him down. Well done David and I hope you do well in the next three test matches, I for one will be cheering you on.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I seem to remember Johnson being given chance after chance in the Australian teams. Don’t we all remember the ‘ He sprays them here, he sprays them there. He sprays them everywhere ‘?
Try Hard
Roar Rookie
If I had to chose between Warner and Mitchell Johnson to be in my corner, it would be Johnson. Warner should not be given a easy passage to retirement. He hasn’t performed and therefore should make way for others.
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
I agree. My issue is that he is constantly misquoted
Pierro
Roar Rookie
rowdy Happy to see the back of warner after Sydney . He should have been ripped from test team after a fire ashes in 19 and again the world cup final was an excuse to select him for ashes where his average was poor again . I'd agree with Johnson on this one about selector bias based on the facts warner should be long gone at test level as we have discussed many times before and it's based on performance despite his idiocy crippling Australian cricket with his moronic sandpaper idea to rough the ball up and get a young player to do it not himself
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Happy to see the back of warner after Sydney . He should have been ripped from test team after a fire ashes in 19 and again the world cup final was an excuse to select him for ashes where his average was poor again . I'd agree with Johnson on this one about selector bias based on the facts
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Barb he’s got what he wanted averaging 26 for a few years at test level . hence he’s been paid and got ca public and selectors on his side after imploding the national team . he should be out of test team now
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Yawn zzzzzzzzzz……
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Let’s not forget the ruthless assault on him since he dismissed the Dropbair. The coincidence of the chronos-perfect.
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
I agree with you. He seems to have tempered his behaviour since 2018.
No9
Roar Rookie
Just as well ! It's rather rare to see Warner so composed . No..let me correct that . Unique I should say . I can't remember another such occasion . Can you?
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
I'm guessing Warner is now well aware how the media will exploit this. Warner has little to gain from a public slanging match.
No9
Roar Rookie
Perhaps he should address the issue . As it is he has avoided it .Johnson has said he is surprised about the circumstances of his (Warner's ) proposed going and disagrees with it .. Why not reply to what Johnson said ?
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
I did qualify, on this issue.
No9
Roar Rookie
Warner was far from dignified when he weepingly confessed to to his central role in Sandpapergate . However there was an element of dignity in that he admitted his part in a hitorical blot on the history of australian cricket .
Shire
Roar Rookie
Easy to be cool and calm when you know that you're untouchable. He's not actually in danger of being dropped, so any and all criticism is like water off a duck's back.
Duvall
Roar Rookie
Is there anyone Johnson doesn't have a problem with apart from his dear mate 'Watto'? I doubt it.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Wearing out Green moreso
Blink
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't hold that grudge against him. That seemed to be a collective brain fade from the entire team to use as much energy to hurt the Poms, as possible, rather than bowl them out, which was only going to take one ball. Took them over a half dozen overs to bowl a ball at the stumps. It doesn't get much stupider but they were trying to making a statement while wearing themselves out.