Mitchell Johnson has questioned whether former Australia team-mate David Warner should be given a “hero’s send-off” in the Test series against Pakistan.
Warner, 37, has been named in Australia’s squad for the first Test, which starts in Perth on December 14.
Johnson pointed to Warner’s poor recent form and his central role in 2018’s ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering scandal.
He queried why, from his point of view, Warner appears to have been able to “nominate his own retirement date”.
Warner indicated in June that the upcoming three-match series, which ends at his home ground in Sydney, would be his last as he prepares to call time on a 12-year Test career.
The opening batter has scored 8,487 Test runs at an average of 44.43, but he has averaged under 30 over the past two years and has made just one Test century since 2021.
“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why?” wrote former fast bowler Johnson in The West Australian on Sunday.
“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?
“It’s been five years and David Warner has still never really owned the ball-tampering scandal.”
Johnson took 313 wickets in an eight-year Test career that ended in 2015, three years before the ball-tampering scandal that rocked the Australia squad.
Warner was given a 12-month ban from cricket for his part in the ball being sandpapered to affect flight during Australia’s 2018 tour of South Africa.
Wicketkeeper-batter Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months, while Steve Smith, who was captain of Australia at the time, also received a year-long ban.
Smith has since re-established himself as a key member of the team and has also been picked in the 14-man squad to face Pakistan.
Australia’s chief selector George Bailey said Warner’s ability meant he warranted his place in the squad, but he would not be drawn further on Johnson’s comments.
“Ultimately we still think he’s in our best 11 players to win the first Test,” Bailey said.
Following the opening match in Perth (14-18 December), Australia will take on Pakistan in Melbourne for the annual Boxing Day Test (26-30 December), before what promises to be Warner’s Test swansong at the SCG (3-7 January).
Australia squad for first Test: Pat Cummins (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Cameron Green, Lance Morris.
