- Mitch Johnson takes another swipe at David Warner
- Says selectors should blood new players
- Says Warner's century was 'no big surprise'
David Warner's scintillating 164 against Pakistan in Perth has done nothing to change Mitchell Johnson's view that the Aussies should look for new players this summer.
Warner came under huge criticism from Johnson ahead of the Test summer, with the Australian Ashes hero claiming the opener does not deserve a farewell party due to his poor form and role in the sandpaper scandal.
But Warner hit back in the best possible way at Optus Stadium, celebrating by putting his hand over his mouth in what some fans thought was a dig at Johnson.
In a follow-up column on Saturday evening, Johnson stands by his previous claims.
'I think my opinion in this column from a few weeks ago still applies. He had not scored runs for about three years, apart from the double century last summer,” Johnson wrote in the Western Australian.
Mitchell Johnson, despite his good form, stood by his recent comments about David Warner
Johnson reiterated his call for selectors to use Test series to find new blood
'Another point made was that a mild summer like this, with Australia expected to beat Pakistan and the West Indies comfortably, was the perfect time to bring some new players into an aging team bleed.
“They could have given some of the new guys a really good time this summer and supported them. That will become much more difficult over the next two summers when India and England visit for five Test series.
“It seems like they have their own plans for the squad and how they see things. But soon they will face a changing of the guard.
'David Warner's century on the first day of the Australian Test summer was in some ways no great surprise.
'There has been a lot of media attention on Warner and his form and he seems most motivated when he is backed into a corner and generally saves his best for home soil.
“On the first day, Warner got his luck early – and it could have gone either way – and if you take that, he made 164.
'He did what he was paid to do in the first innings, before Saturday's duck in the second innings.
'Warner may have denied that criticism of his form interests him, but it certainly drives him, as evidenced by his first-innings performance.
Johnson had to watch as his old enemy David Warner scored 164 runs against Pakistan
Johnson has pointed out that eight players in the expected Australian team are aged 32 or over
“That kind of atmosphere is something that Warner enjoys and in that respect he is a bit like Kevin Pietersen.”
Channel 7 brutally stitched up Johnson when the former fast bowler was forced to watch the David Warner show on the first day of the Perth Test.
Johnson was on commentary for Triple M at the Optus Stadium, and as Warner hit a shot for four, Channel 7's camera panned to the former paceman watching from the commentary position.
Johnson smiled wryly as he saw Warner execute the shot.
“Mitchell Johnson looked like he enjoyed it. From a radio box not far from here. Interesting build-up to the game,” said Tim Lane on Channel 7's coverage.