Big twist in Mitchell Johnson’s fight with David Warner as batter’s reaction to extraordinary attack is revealed and Pat Cummins breaks his silence on clash that has rocked cricket

The feud between Mitchell Johnson and David Warner continues to rage on, with the batsman reportedly reaching out to a number of former players to try and understand why the legendary left-arm fast bowler unleashed the left-arm blow on him.

Johnson minced no words in an explosive newspaper column claiming Warner did not deserve a “hero's send-off” this summer for his involvement in the infamous Sandpapergate fraud scandal in 2018.

The ex-paceman also highlighted Warner's lack of runs in Tests in recent years before picking chairman of selectors George Bailey.

He then doubled down on his criticism of Warner and Bailey on a podcast with cricket writer Bharat Sundaresan.

Now that has been reported Warner – who wants to withdraw from the Test arena during the SCG clash with Pakistan in January – wants to know why Johnson addressed him personally in the column.

Warner 'has contacted current and former Australian players' to try to understand Johnson as the Australian opener remains 'in the dark' following the attack, the report said Sydney Morning Herald.

One source told the publication: 'It's the fourth or fifth time Mitch has committed to what has been quite a successful Australian side.'

Many current stars would be baffled by Johnson's scathing criticism as the Aussies won the World Test Championship and the recent ODI World Cup in India and retained the Ashes this year.

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh stressed that Johnson and Warner “are both adults who are entitled to their opinions and should be able to deal with criticism.”

Warner finally broke his silence on the issue on Friday, stating that Johnson is entitled to his opinion, no matter how blunt.

“It wouldn't be summer without a head, right?” he said at the launch of Fox Cricket's summer coverage in Parramatta on Friday.

'It is what it is. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. 'Looking ahead, we look forward to a good test in the west.'

Current skipper Pat Cummins also confirmed that the playing group had rallied around Warner.

“We protect each other a lot. We have been through a lot in recent years,” he says.

'I've been playing with someone like Davey or Steve (Smith) for twelve years now. (We are) fiercely protective of each other.

“It's hard to say (what Mitch's motivation is). You'll have to ask Mitch that. But there are so many things to celebrate about Australian cricket right now.

“There are so many exciting things about Australian cricket at the moment and I think we need to focus on that and talk about it.”

Cummins also defended selector Bailey, who Johnson felt was standing 'too close' to the players.

'I think it's been brilliant. George was fantastic. He makes my job very easy,” Cummins said.

“I remember some old coaches of mine saying that the playing eleven will always look after themselves. It's the guys on the edge who are always the hardest to manage because they have obvious disappointments.

“When you see how George has done that over the years, it's been brilliant. I have never seen a selector as practical and impressive as George.'

Since the summer of 2020/21, the under-pressure Warner has managed just one Test century from 25 matches – a memorable double hundred against South Africa in his 100th Test at the MCG in late 2022.

The Australian selectors have kept Warner's hand through the lean phase, which admittedly led to two dismissals in the 1990s, and are in the process of identifying his replacement outside Sydney.

The first Test against Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth starts on December 14.

Johnson is tipped to be in the commentary box for Triple M, where he may be asked to interview Warner in scenes that could be more than awkward.