Mitchell Johnson was dumped from two public speaking jobs by Cricket Australia after his inflammatory column criticising David Warner and chief selector George Bailey.
News Corp reports that Johnson was pulled due to the personal nature of the column before last week’s win over Pakistan, where Warner smashed 164 in the first innings.
“Mitchell is one of Australia’s most celebrated bowlers, but we felt on this occasion it was in everyone’s best interests that he was not the guest speaker at the CA functions,’’ a CA spokesman told News Corp.
News Corp suggested: “It is believed that while CA respects Johnson’s right to have a public opinion, the caustic nature of what he wrote for The West Australian newspaper gave the issue a much harder edge than regular critical commentary from an ex-player.
“There may have also been fears that current Australian players or staff could have taken exception at Johnson being celebrated in such a fashion at official Cricket Australia functions.
David Warner celebrates after scoring his century. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
“It is understood Johnson and Warner have not spoken since the fallout.”
Warner aimed a pointed “shush” at his critics, including Johnson after reaching his century in Perth.
Johnson had questioned why Warner deserved a farewell Test series, and sledged the opener over the sand paper affair.
He questioned Bailey’s integrity in continuing to select Warner despite a drop in form.
In a podcast a few days after the column appeared in the West Australian newspaper, Johnson said he regretted the references to Sandpapergate but stood by his column overall, something he continued to do during the Test while on air on Triple M.
Bailey responded “I hope he’s OK,” to the column. Johnson said he was “disgusted” that Bailey had taken aim at his mental health.
Meanwhile, Mitch Marsh has finally embraced the Mitch Marsh way, and Australian cricket is reaping the rewards.
Marsh produced quickfire knocks of 90 and 63no to be named man of the match in Australia’s Test series-opening 360-run win over Pakistan in Perth.
The 32-year-old also claimed the crucial scalp of Babar Azam in the first innings to further highlight his all-round value to the team.
Marsh has been a revelation since his four-year Test hiatus was ended during the Ashes in July, and he looms as a key figure over the next two years ahead of the arrival of India and England to Australia.
One key difference in the new-look Marsh is his willingness to embrace his strengths, rather than try to imitate the strengths of others.
Marsh is the first to admit he will never have the temperament of an Usman Khawaja or a Marnus Labuschagne, but one thing he has in spades is power.
It’s that live-by-the-sword, die-by-the-sword mantra that is serving Marsh so well in all three formats of the game.
“I think he’s just got a really clear process at the moment in whatever format it is,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said.
“He knows how to score runs, and you know he doesn’t really care what it looks like.
“I think in the past you can get caught up in, ‘There’s a template of how you’re meant to play Test cricket or supposed to play Test cricket and you’ve got to have a good forward defence’.
“I think how Travis Head’s gone about it, David Warner his whole career, and now Mitch Marsh shows that it doesn’t really matter how you score them, as long as you’re scoring runs.
“I think Mitch has found a really good game plan, wherever he is in the world.”
Mitchell Marsh. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Australia have won 15 Tests in a row against Pakistan in Australia, and they’ll be aiming to continue that hot run during the Boxing Day Test.
Nathan Lyon will enter the match brimming with confidence after snaring Test wicket No.500 during the win in Perth.
“He’s a star. He’s so good,” Labuschagne said of Lyon, who joined Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath as Australians to have taken 500 Test wickets..
“He’s got a natural ability, very gifted ability of bowling a very good off-spin ball.
“The amount of revs he gets – it’s almost impossible for anyone else to get that amount of revs.
“That skill alone is almost unteachable.
“I’ve played with a lot of off spinners and there’s no one that can get that shape on the ball with that sort of 45 degree angle seam.
“And that’s what makes it so hard when teams come to Australia, because it’s actually the bounce he gets, the steepness.
“It’s just been unbelievable to watch his career.”
(With AAP)
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Indeed Rolando. And I wonder how many of 'our' media who have managed to convert accurate observations into "scathing personal attacks" also stuck both boots into Justin Langer's personality when the entitled princelings knifed him. I suspect about 100%.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Barb, I just read "CA is adamant Johnson was not censored". If you have time I am interested to know your thoughts on how, when stopping someone from speaking publicly, this is not censoring. For me this lacks backbone. If they had said MJ was not allowed to speak as they are worried his personal opinions might upset the mindset of players during a test series then the issue would have blown over. As I said above, this sort of stiff resolve used to exist and has subsided, as it has across too many public platforms (more public than Roar).
Frodo
Roar Rookie
Beats a visit from the Illinois Enema Bandit on Xmas Eve!
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
No idea, but I'm think Frank Zappa
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
The very same MEW! You know the Superstar, ATG & Legend with the 41.2 batting average.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
To be fair, the poster mentioned dishes out considerably more personal attacks than any other poster on this site. I can't actually recall who it was, and I won't take your word for it on how they "...dish out considerably more personal attacks..." than anyone else. This is not because you haven't corrected your 'GSC 7 ducks in a row' claim, but because 'our' media have now dramatically redefined what constitutes a "personal attack"...
Morz
Roar Rookie
This Johnson v Warner debate is small fry, and nothing but back page fodder. The most important debate that is needed in modern cricket is how to sort out the influence of the BCCI. No problem with them having their IPL League, even if I think T20 is an abomination of a game --however, the hypocritical stance of some nations that decry the power BCCI have, but then eagerly take the Indian money is disturbing. There has to be a cricket calendar worldwide sorted out so the IPL and other Leagues have their window, and Test cricket get's it's window -and that Test window cannot just revolve around Ind/Aus/Poms. NZ, RSA, Pakistan etc need to be part of the window -- I see NZ will be playing four tests in Australia in a couple years - good. These 2 test series are a bane, and go a long way to explaining why the likes of a former force in Test cricket such as Pakistan, cannot currently compete against Australia in the proper form of the game. Yes, Yes, Yes, I know NZ did extremely well to win the WTC a couple years ago, but that was off the back of a slow over rate by Aus letting the Kiwis thru the door, and then they have a number of world class players. Generally, the Teams that are limited two Test series are finding it hard to compete, and in the case of Windies that cricket calendar has meant a mass exodus of their best players away from test cricket, and now RSA are also about to go through this.... Way more important than the Warner v Johnson stoush.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Dinah Moe Hum: you win today's impetuosity prize coming to you in the specially sealed gift pack courtesy of Humpback and Pedestrian Law House. For when you crunch em.
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
Yes, he has played true to form ... again.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
EffZed! Moonunit and Dweezel say hi.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
Bwahahaha. That's funny, Barb! Don doesn't believe they teach reading east of W.A.
Anth
Roar Rookie
It’s a little bit of a hypocritical two way street. Old mate Mitch has been strung up by the nads as a result of his comments (read behaviour); then Warner’s behaviour ( by averaging SFA as an opener in Tests) for the last half decade has resulted in him being a walk up start in every Test side regardless. There’s an imbalance, at best.
sheek
Roar Guru
Rowdy, Not a Brett Lee fan, leaked too many runs. A bowling average of nearly 31 is poor for a top class paceman. You can understand spinners being in the low 30s, but not quality pacemen.
Anth
Roar Rookie
Don’t agree with much of what you say Barb; but you are spot on regarding Cam Green.
sheek
Roar Guru
Shire, ME Waugh the Gambler? And his trusty offsider, SK Warne? :laughing:
sheek
Roar Guru
BigGordon, Several months ago when my daughter got married, I made an off the cuff remark that the argument score is 107 to 3 in my wife's favour when mentioning a debate about my speech (re defence on my part). Two perfectly random numbers made on the run. However, this works out to a strike rate of 2.7% so I'm a bit above your one percent! My wife & I are both strong personalities & on the odd occasion when I have a meltdown, she accuses me of emotional abuse. But when she has a meltdown, it's justified because I'm a male dolt. Go figure! :laughing:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
That or fish n chips at that really good shop in Batemans Bay
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I can confirm I'm biased and one eyed, well, last time l looked. We're a broad church which is not the same as a House of Ill-repute talked about by John 'pull-ya-head-in-before-a-fruitpicker-sees-it' Howard. So as a demonstration of my benevolence I'll allow both Sheek-it-up-Baby and Barbed Wire live harmoniously amongst us. We are but like the German Fuedal Principalities prior to Kaiser Wilhelm Kombi Van the II uniting us onto true Teutonic Destination.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
"I'm petulant and in a frenzy" A free dropped Macca's cone to the contestant who guesses the songwriter
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Tomorrow is our real song's day: "How to Make the Gravy" I'm going to pick Stella up, she's flying in from the coast ya know