- Mitchell Johnson was able to commentate during the Perth Test
- Johnson and David Warner are embroiled in a public feud
- They could cross paths when Australia takes on Pakistan
Mitchell Johnson and David Warner could be in for an awkward reunion this summer after the former fast bowler claimed he would comment on the Australia-Pakistan clash next Thursday.
Johnson said he will be in the commentary box at Optus Stadium for the first Test of the summer with Triple M, although the radio station does not include the Ashes hero in their list of 18 commentators.
If he gets the call, it could lead to tense scenes as Johnson bumps into Warner or national team selector George Bailey amid a heated row that has divided cricket.
Johnson blasted the decision to include Warner – who has averaged 21 runs in Test cricket this year – in the team for the opening Test, insisting the opener would not get a hero's farewell given his role in the sandpaper scandal of 2018.
Bailey, who accused Johnson of being too close to the playing group, responded by questioning the former bowler's mental health – a response that 'disgusted' Johnson.
Mitchell Johnson (right) and David Warner (left) could cross paths next week
Warner has been embroiled in a very public feud with his former Australia teammate
Johnson has since claimed that the motivation for his uncompromising column bashing of Warner was a sour-tinged text message Warner sent his former teammate in April.
“I got a message from Dave, which was quite personal, and I tried to call him and talk to him about it,” Johnson said on The Mitchell Johnson Cricket Show podcast.
'It was never anything personal until that moment. That is what prompted me to write this article, or part of it. It's definitely a factor. Some things he mentioned in that message.
“I won't say because that's up to Dave to say if he wants to talk about it. There were things in there that were extremely disappointing, what he said, and quite bad to be honest. That was quite a driver.'
Reflecting on Bailey's comment, Johnson said: “When I ask if I'm okay because I've had mental health issues, I'm pretty much downplaying my article and putting it on mental health, which is pretty disgusting,” he said.
'I'm fine. I am not angry. I'm not jealous. I'm just writing a piece that I felt like I had to write.
“It's basically examining someone's mental health and saying there must be something going on, a mental health problem, that makes me say what I said. That's not the truth.'
Johnson also doubled down on his attacks on Warner in the podcast.
Johnson says he will commentate on the first Test against Pakistan
He also attacked George Bailey for his 'disgusting' comment about his mental health
'It feels like it connects. The selectors have talked about picking guys based on form,” Johnson said.
'If you look at the form of David, because the article is about him. His form in England wasn't great. So you assume that you don't choose someone on a form.
I have also written good articles about David. I've always said that I'm a very different thinker. I am not a traditional cricketer. At a young age I didn't play much. I didn't grow up with it as much as others. I always questioned things and had a different thought process.
“And I probably got mad when I got a message from him (Bailey) at odd hours in the morning and he didn't show the respect to call. It's pretty much that.'