Mitchell Johnson WILL go face-to-face with David Warner in Perth as star hasn’t been sacked as a commentator over attack on ex-teammate
- Mitchell Johnson has now been tipped to commentate during the Perth Test
- Wasn't mentioned by Triple M when they announced their radio team
- Johnson and David Warner are embroiled in a public feud
Mitchell Johnson will face David Warner in Perth in the first Test next week as his management confirmed he has not been sacked as a commentator by Triple M after attacking his former teammate.
The news comes after Johnson was scathing in his criticism of Warner in a recent newspaper column.
The former fast bowler blasted the decision to include Warner – who has averaged just 22.81 runs in Test cricket this year – in the XI for the opening Test in Perth, insisting the opener would not be a hero's farewell given his role in the 2018 sandpaper scandal.
It was reported that Johnson was sacked by Triple M when his name was not included in their list of 18 commentators for the upcoming summer of cricket.
Johnson (pictured right) will be with Warner in Perth for the first test next week – despite not being named as a Triple M commentator in a press release on Tuesday
The news comes after Johnson was scathing in his criticism of Warner (pictured) over his 'staged' retirement from Test cricket
However, Johnson's management has cleared up any confusion by stating that their client will be behind the microphone for the Test against Pakistan on December 14.
Johnson questioned why Warner publicly announced his intention to retire from international white-ball cricket in June after the Sydney Test against Pakistan – with many former Australian greats – most notably Ricky Ponting and Ian Healy – not walking away on their own terms .
National selector George Bailey was also in Johnson's sights, accusing him of being too close to the playing group.
Bailey responded by questioning the former bowler's sanity, leaving Johnson 'disgusted'.
Johnson has since claimed that the motivation for his uncompromising column-bashing of Warner was a blunt 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 (in more detail) because that's for 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 comments, 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 also hit out at national selector George Bailey (pictured) for his 'disgusting' comment about his mental health
After Johnson called for Warner to be dropped from this year's Australian Ashes tour, Candice Warner (right) hit back, saying his views were irrelevant and 'didn't have much merit'.
'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.'
Triple M – who also have Warner's wife Candice on their books – has been approached for comment by Ny Breaking Australia.