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Before David Warner’s “farewell” Test series
against Pakistan last week, former Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson sparked
controversy by criticising the man harshly. Using his recent troubles in
red-ball cricket as justification, Johnson launched an explosive tirade against
the Australia opener, questioning the decision to give Warner a Test farewell.
Johnson also accused Warner of denying responsibility for the 2018
ball-tampering fiasco. Johnson claimed that even after five years, Warner has
not completely “acknowledged” his involvement in the controversy and
that his goodbye remarks appear to be filled with “arrogance and
disrespect” for the nation.
Johnson’s remarks sparked discussion on social media,
with George Bailey, Australia’s head selector, and Usman Khawaja, Warner’s
opening partner, supporting the senior batter from Australia. Although Warner
has not commented on the topic thus far, Johnson was not the first to lash out
at the Australian star; the former quick has previously attacked Warner’s
selection for the Ashes in 2023.
Former captain of Australia Ricky Ponting has now
spoken out about the acrimonious feud between the two national heroes,
suggesting that he may need to “mediate” in order to defuse the
tension. Ponting maintained that the public altercation between two of
Australia’s top cricket players is not good for the game.
“I have to get in between these two guys at some
stage… I think I need to be the mediator and get them both in a room and let
them have it out rather than playing it out in the media. They’re both pretty
feisty characters and we know this issue that’s come up now goes back six or
eight months, back to the Ashes selection,” Ponting told Sunrise.
“That’s where it all started. It sounds like an issue
that’s gone on without either of them sitting down and having a face-to-face
conversation. I’d like to see that happen,” he further stated.