Mitchell Johnson is sacked by Cricket Australia over his extraordinary attack on David Warner
The fallout from Mitchell Johnson's vicious attack on David Warner and chief selector George Bailey continues with the rioter's axing from two appearances in Perth by Cricket Australia.
Johnson took aim at Warner ahead of the first Test against Pakistan, sensationally stating that he did not deserve a hero's farewell at the SCG for his role in Sandpapergate in 2018.
Warner and Steve Smith were stripped of their captaincy and banned for 12 months in some of the harshest punishments ever handed out by Cricket Australia.
But Johnson, a former teammate of Warner's, wasn't ready to forgive and forget.
“Is this really worth a swan song, a last hurray against Pakistan who was predicted a year in advance as if they were bigger than the game and the Australian cricket team,” Johnson wrote.
'Australian coach Andrew McDonald recently said they will choose this summer's Test squad based on current performances.
“It would be nice to know how long this strategy has been around, as it doesn't seem to have been applied to Warner in a while.”
Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson (pictured during the first Test in Perth) was sacked by Cricket Australia for his comments in his newspaper column about David Warner
Warner gives his shoosh reaction after scoring a ton in Perth, while Warner's wife Candice also gave a shoosh reaction on social media
Those comments went like a lead balloon to Cricket Australia and it has now been revealed that CA have axed Johnson after two guest speakers at Optus Stadium.
“Mitchell is one of Australia's most celebrated bowlers, but we felt it was in everyone's best interests on this occasion that he was not the guest speaker at the CA functions,” a CA spokesperson said. News Corp.
It was also reported that Johnson had lost his Triple M commentary gig ahead of the Perth Test due to his newspaper comments.
However, the legend of pace bowling was present in the commentary – stitched together by Channel 7 and his own radio network.
As Warner took strides towards his ton, Channel 7 playfully teased Johnson after a powerful boundary shot.
Johnson, who was carrying out his commentary duties for Triple M at Optus Stadium, smiled wryly as the Channel 7 camera panned to capture the former gangman observing Warner's well-executed shot from the commentary position.
“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.
Triple M radio caller James Brayshaw also provoked Johnson during the conversation.
'I haven't seen you in the run-up to this match, Johnno. Is there something going on?' said Braysha.
“Not really,” Johnson deadpanned.
'Not really? Stay inconspicuous?' Brayshaw added.
“Lying down,” former Australian captain Mark Taylor chuckled.
“Nup, all's well out here out west,” Johnson joked.
“The sun is shining, mate, as you know.”
Warner said little publicly about the attack but gave a sharp shoosh response when he scored a first innings ton in the first Test.
His wife Candice also fired back at Johnson on social media, posting the shoosh emoji after her husband knocked.
Although Johnson has maintained his criticism of Warner since his newspaper column, he did express his regret during an episode of his podcast, The Mitchell Johnson Cricket Show.
Warner (left) and Johnson (right, next to Nathan Lyon, center of photo) were former Test teammates before the explosive motorcade
Warner has announced that the Sydney Test against Pakistan will be his last, angering Johnston even though he also nominated his own retirement match against New Zealand.
The 313-Test wicket great said he regretted raising the sandpaper scandal but reaffirmed his position on other issues, including his belief that players should not have the power to dictate the terms of their retirement.
“There's one thing I wasn't too happy about,” Johnson said.
'I didn't notice anything at the time. I read the article and just went with it. The 'Bunnings' and the 'sandpaper' part of it. Probably unpalatable. That was probably something that didn't need to be said.
“The reason (the sandpaper scandal) came up is I just don't look at statistics. I look at the whole picture. And I try not to bring up those old things.
“But for someone to say goodbye and be in the position he was in and what they did at the time, that didn't really sit right with me, that's why I brought it up.”