Australian cricket news: Fox Sports star Brendon Julian hits back at ‘naive’ Australian stars

Australian World Cup winner turned media star Brendon Julian has revealed he’s been contacted by players with their noses out of joint over his commentary. And now he has a message for sensitive stars.

World Cup winner and former Test all-rounder Brendon Julian has revealed he has been contacted by Australian players querying comments he made in the media.

Julian’s comments came as he said he was bemused by the recent remarks of Aussie spin star Adam Zampa, who derided the criticism of ex-players about the current Australian team.

Speaking ahead of Australia’s white-ball series in England, Julian – a media veteran and Fox Cricket expert – said that he believed some former stars could be overly pointed with their opinions, but that ultimately it was “naive” to expect retired players wouldn’t call things as they see them.

“I’m paid to comment. I’m paid to commentate. That’s what commentators do… If I’m commentating on a game and I see it a certain way, then I’m going to say that, because that’s what I’m paid to do,” Julian said.

“I don’t know if Adam is saying that person or this person? I think it’s naive to think that you’re never going to get criticised playing professional sport at the top level. It’s not going to happen.”

Brendon Julian is a Fox Cricket expert and one of the more respected figures in the game. Picture: AAP

While Julian said he felt former Test paceman Mitchell Johnson went too far with his West Australian column around the retiring David Warner last summer, he said he could see the funny side of Warner entering the media ranks after giving up international cricket.

“(Warner) had the shits with former players or people in the media that criticised (him). He’s working in the media (now). You can’t have it both ways,” Julian said.

“And I’ve been texted by players that are playing, saying, ‘mate, I can’t believe you said that.’ And I said, ‘but what about the 15 things (where I said) how good what you did was.’ I mean, seriously?”

Zampa had made his feelings clear about former players during an appearance last month on The Final Word podcast.

Adam Zampa voiced his concerns about criticism from former players. Picture: Getty

The intergenerational tension escalated around the messy exit of Australian coach and former Test opener Justin Langer over 2021 and 2022.

“The way that I see it is, when ex-players come out, it’s almost like they’re talking about it on a big WhatsApp group or something, like ‘let’s all back each other up and say the same s**t’,” Zampa said.

“There was a bit of time there where people were going really hard for us, and for an Australian cricketer looking forward to what I think I’m going to be like when I’m done … I’m like, ‘what are they doing?‘

“Just be thoughtful and actually try and help, and understand what it’s like to be a professional cricketer … you f***ing did it already, so why are you being such a f***wit about it?”

The messy exit of former coach Justin Langer created tension between current and former players. Picture: AFP

Zampa shapes as a key player in Australia’s three Twenty20s and five one-day internationals against England that begin with a T20 in Southampton in the early hours of Thursday morning Australian time.

Steve Smith is only part of the setup for the one-day leg, against a backdrop of intrigue as to whether he will retain his opening role for the Test summer.

Julian said he expected the former captain would open for the duration of the five-Test series against India despite a modest start to his stint in the position.

“I don’t think they’ll change it. The only way it would change and put the pressure on if he completely gets found out and it’s not working. I think they will lock him in, and I’m happy to lock him in for five Tests. I think he’s a good enough player to go out and do that. I think it was a bold move, but I accepted the reality of getting Cam Green in the side and getting Mitch Marsh in the side. And if that was one way of doing it, then I was all for that.”

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Originally published as Australian cricket news: Fox Sports star Brendon Julian hits back at ‘naive’ Australian stars