Australia’s Usman Khawaja and David Warner throughout a break in play. File.
| Photo Credit: Action Images through Reuters
Former Australia left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson’s criticism of David Warner hasn’t gone down properly with batter Usman Khawaja, who got here out in sturdy defence of his opening accomplice, who is about to bid adieu to Test cricket at his residence floor in Sydney in January subsequent yr.
In a column for ‘The West Australian’ newspaper, Johnson questioned Warner’s inclusion within the 14-member squad for the three-match Test sequence towards Pakistan beginning in Perth on December 14.
Johnson wrote that Warner, 37, does not deserve a spot within the squad going by his kind or benefit, and he has not taken full duty for his function within the ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018 for which he was banned for a yr.
Khawaja backed Warner, his opening accomplice in Test cricket, and Steve Smith, who was the Australia captain throughout the notorious scandal.
“Warner and Smith are heroes in my mind,” Khawaja advised reporters on Monday.
“They missed a year of cricket through dark times. No one’s perfect. Mitchell Johnson’s not perfect.
“What they (Warner and Smith) have finished for the sport — how they’ve grown the sport — far outweighs anything they’ve finished.
“To say Dave Warner or anyone else involved in sandpaper (gate) is not a hero… I strongly disagree because they have paid their dues. A year out of cricket is a long time,” he added.
Khawaja additionally disagreed with Johnson’s view that chairman of selectors George Bailey was too near Warner.
“I’m not sure you can argue with that. (The criticism) is harsh,” Khawaja mentioned.
But former Australia Test captain Tim Paine feels Johnson had made some good observations about Warner’s kind.
“David hasn’t been playing well and would other people be getting the run he’s getting now? Probably not,” Paine advised SEN Radio.
“But in my opinion, he’s (Warner) got credits in the bank because he is one of the all-time greats.
“I believe you possibly can learn between the traces that (Johnson) and Davey do not get alongside.”
