NEW DELHI: David Warner's manager, James Erskine, responded to former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson's criticism regarding Warner's Test farewell. Johnson had questioned the left-handed batter's eligibility for a hero's send-off, considering his recent struggles in red-ball cricket and his role in the ball-tampering scandal, also known as 'Sandpaper Gate.'
Earlier this year, Warner expressed his intention to retire from Test cricket, aiming to conclude his red-ball career at his home ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Johnson, in his column for The West Australian, contended that Warner's form and his involvement in the ball-tampering incident did not warrant a grand farewell.
"As we prepare for David Warner's farewell series, can somebody please tell me why? Why does a struggling Test opener get to nominate his own retirement date? And why does a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrant a hero's send-off?" Johnson wrote.
Erskine hit back at Johnson, stating that his questioning Warner's selection isn't logical and saying, as quoted from The Sydney Morning Herald, "Let me tell you, anyone can get a headline. The fact is [Warner's selection] is just logical. The three [replacement] candidates will be [Matthew] Renshaw, [Cameron] Bancroft - who has played pretty well in the Sheffield Shield - and [Marcus] Harris. Now they've all had spells opening the batting for Australia."
Additionally, Johnson highlighted that the trio of Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Matthew Renshaw had collectively registered only one century in 38 Test appearances, with a combined average hovering in the mid-20s.
Despite this, Erskine supported Warner's case, emphasising that Warner had contributed significantly. He pointed out Warner's recent half-century in the Ashes and highlighted that Warner was the leading run-scorer for Australia in the ODI World Cup.
"David is in good form. Thank God Mitchell Johnson isn't a Test selector," Erskine said.
Australia's First Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, and David Warner.
(With ANI inputs)
