Revealed: The real reason why Mitchell Johnson was sacked by Cricket Australia after his shocking attack on David Warner

Cricket Australia axed Mitchell Johnson from two speaking engagements amid fears of a backlash from Pat Cummins' players in Perth.

The former left-armer was scheduled to be two guest speakers at Optus Stadium when Australia played Pakistan last week.

However, Cricket Australia stopped the Ashes hero as they believed his criticism of David Warner in an explosive column had gone too far. Mike Hussey replaced Johnson in the lunch events.

And now journalist Robert Craddock reports that Johnsn was muzzled in an attempt to appease the group of players who had thrown the full weight of their support behind Warner.

“I believe it was Cricket Australia's call, but I also believe it was done to reduce the chance of the players blowing up over it,” Craddock said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

Johnson was due to make two guest addresses during the first Test in Perth

'I didn't think they would do that, I really didn't. I don't even think they would have found out.

'There's so much going on in a Test match with loudspeakers coming and going that if Mitchell Johnson walked into a room the players wouldn't know.

“The other thing about Johnson is that you can't underestimate his smarts and his sensibilities, that you can read the room and say, 'I stand by what I said, but I got a little personal and I regret that.'

'Some people call that entertainment. We live in a world with such political correctness.'

Craddock theorized that Johnson's performances would have been acceptable in other sports, but cricket “takes itself a bit too seriously.”

“Mitchell Johnson, of course, had a volcanic column criticizing David Warner and George Bailey,” he added.

“If it was just about statistics and limited to people versus statistics, it would have been fair enough.

However, Cricket Australia dropped him amid his explosive feud with David Warner

It is claimed that Cricket Australia feared a backlash from Warner's teammates

'But it got a bit personal so Cricket Australia felt it was a bad look to then celebrate Johnson by having him as a guest at two events in Perth.

“If this had been rugby league the event organizers would have said, 'How good is this, gosh, I hope it starts a fire', because what I like about that sport is that it just survives on bushfires that keep burning and everyone gets the story.

'There are players changing clubs, there's a bit of arguing, there's a bit of drama, but in the end it doesn't mean much and it's all part of the soap opera of the sport.

'Cricket always comes up a bit short in that respect, I always feel. It takes itself a little too seriously.”