Mitchell Johnson not in favour of David Warner’s farewell on his own terms

Former Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson doesn’t seem to have forgiven David Warner for his role in the 2018 ball-tampering incident. The latter, alongside former skipper Steven Smith were the chief architects of the scandal. They also included the then-rising star Cameron Bancroft in their mischieves. While Warner and Smith were banned for a year, Bancroft was banned for nine months.

The likes of Warner and Smith have been playing for the team while Bancroft is struggling to make his way. Meanwhile, at the age of 37, the left-hander, Warner has announced his retirement from Test cricket after the home series against Pakistan. The series will consist of three games starting on December 14. Warner’s last Test will be played in Sydney, his home turf.

Meanwhile, two-time ODI World Cup winner, Johnson doesn’t seem to be happy with Warner getting a farewell. The former started by saying that the opening batter, Warner has been struggling the longest format of the game

“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why?” Johnson wrote in a column for The West Australian. “Why a struggling Test opener gets to nominate his own retirement date.“

Johnson added that a player who was the center of one of the biggest scandals (2018 sandpaper gate) shouldn’t get a hero’s farewell.

“And why a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrants a hero’s send-off?”

Will David Warner complete 9000 runs before retirement?

The three-time World Cup winner has 8487 runs to his name in 109 games. If he gets 513 runs in three Tests, he can complete 9000 Test runs before retirement from the longest format of the game.

Australia squad vs Pakistan in Perth Test: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Cameron Green, Lance Morris.