Mitchell Johnson Reveals Personal Text from David Warner Ignited Controversial Article

Former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson has revealed that a “pretty bad” text message from David Warner earlier this year served as a catalyst for his recent controversial article. The article, published in the West Australian, questioned Warner’s hero’s send-off in Test cricket and raised concerns about the proximity between chairman of selectors George Bailey and the players.

Personal Message from Warner: A Turning Point

In an episode of his podcast, The Mitchell Johnson Cricket Show, Johnson disclosed details about the text message he received from Warner in April. He stated, “I got a message from Dave, which was quite personal. Some of the stuff that was said in that, I won’t say it. I think that’s up to Dave to say it if he wants to talk about it.”

Johnson’s article not only targeted Warner but also questioned Bailey’s role as chairman of selectors. The cricketer-turned-writer expressed dissatisfaction with Bailey’s response, particularly an overnight text message, which he found condescending. Johnson was particularly irked by what he perceived as an insinuation about his mental health, describing it as “quite disgusting.”

“To ask if I’m okay because I’ve had mental health issues is pretty much downplaying my article and putting it on mental health, which is quite disgusting, I think,” Johnson stated.

Johnson’s Regret and Personal Clarity

While owning up to the article, Johnson expressed regret for a line suggesting “Bunnings would sell out of sandpaper.” Despite the controversy, he emphasized that the intention was not seeking attention but rather expressing his opinion. Johnson clarified, “I’m not angry, I’m not jealous. I’m just writing a piece that I felt like I needed to write.”

The public spat between Johnson, Warner, and Bailey has stirred discussions within the cricketing community, with opinions varying on the appropriateness of former players critiquing current ones.

In the midst of the controversy, one thing remains clear—Mitchell Johnson is unapologetic about sharing his perspective and stands by the opinions expressed in his article.

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