Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson strongly criticised the decision to give opener David Warner a hero's farewell in what is likely to be his last Test match in January. Johnson accused chief selector George Bailey of being too close to the players and questioned Warner's eligibility for a farewell, citing his involvement in the infamous Sandpaper Gate scandal.
In a column for 'The Western Australia', Johnson expressed his disbelief at Warner being allowed to choose his retirement date, especially given his recent struggles in Test cricket. He pointed out that Warner never fully admitted his role in the ball-tampering scandal and felt that the request for a farewell Test showed arrogance and disrespect towards the nation.
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"As we prepare for David Warner's farewell series, can somebody please tell me why? Why does a struggling Test opener get to nominate his retirement date? And why a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrant a hero's send-off?
"It's the ball-tampering disgrace in South Africa that many will never forget. Although Warner wasn't alone in Sandpaper Gate, he was at the time a senior member of the team and someone who liked to use his perceived power as a 'leader'.
"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 said.
The Sandpaper Gate scandal, which occurred in South Africa in 2017, led to Warner, along with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, receiving a year's ban from cricket. Warner also faced a lifetime ban from captaincy. Despite the controversy, the trio moved on, with Warner having a successful World Cup campaign in 2023, and Bancroft nearing a Test recall.
Johnson also criticised Bailey for being too close to the players, including his handling of the Tim Paine sexting scandal in 2021. When Paine's career was ending due to the controversy, Bailey, who was close friends with Paine, chose not to be involved in deciding Paine's fate.
Johnson raised concerns about Bailey's quick transition from playing to the role of chief selector and questioned whether his closeness to certain players, including Warner, influenced his decisions.
"When then-captain Tim Paine's career was ending over the sexting controversy, chairman of selectors George Bailey said he didn't want to be part of deciding Paine's fate because the pair were close friends," Johnson said.
"Bailey said he would leave it to then coach Justin Langer and fellow selector Tony Dodemaide to work it out. The handling of Warner in recent years, who played with Bailey in all three forms, raises the question of whether Bailey was simply too quickly out of playing and into the job and too close to some of the players," said Johnson.
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