Mitchell Johnson has questioned whether or not former Australia team-mate David Warner must be given a “hero’s send-off” within the Check sequence in opposition to Pakistan.
Warner, 37, has been named in Australia’s squad for the primary Check, which begins in Perth on December 14.
Johnson pointed to Warner’s poor current kind and his central position in 2018’s ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering scandal.
He queried why, from his perspective, Warner seems to have been capable of “nominate his personal retirement date”.
Warner indicated in June that the upcoming three-match sequence, which ends at his house floor in Sydney, can be his final as he prepares to name time on a 12-year Check profession.
The opening batter has scored 8,487 Check runs at a mean of 44.43, however he has averaged below 30 over the previous two years and has made only one Check century since 2021.
“As we put together for David Warner’s farewell sequence, can anyone please inform me why?” wrote former quick bowler Johnson in The West Australian on Sunday.
“Why a struggling Check opener will get to appoint his personal retirement date. And why a participant on the centre of one of many largest scandals in Australian cricket historical past warrants a hero’s send-off?
“It has been 5 years and David Warner has nonetheless by no means actually owned the ball-tampering scandal.”
Johnson took 313 wickets in an eight-year Check profession that led to 2015, three years earlier than the ball-tampering scandal that rocked the Australia squad.
Warner was given a 12-month ban from cricket for his half within the ball being sandpapered to have an effect on flight throughout Australia’s 2018 tour of South Africa.
Wicketkeeper-batter Cameron Bancroft was banned for 9 months, whereas Steve Smith, who was captain of Australia on the time, additionally obtained a year-long ban.
Smith has since re-established himself as a key member of the workforce and has additionally been picked within the 14-man squad to face Pakistan.
Australia’s chief selector George Bailey mentioned Warner’s capacity meant he warranted his place within the squad, however he wouldn’t be drawn additional on Johnson’s feedback.
“Finally we nonetheless suppose he is in our greatest 11 gamers to win the primary Check,” Bailey mentioned.
Following the opening match in Perth (14-18 December), Australia will tackle Pakistan in Melbourne for the annual Boxing Day Check (26-30 December), earlier than what guarantees to be Warner’s Check swansong on the SCG (3-7 January).
Australia squad for first Check: 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 Inexperienced, Lance Morris.