Aussie Test legend Mitchell Johnson goes nuclear in David Warner attack

Aussie Test legend Mitchell Johnson has launched a stunning attack on former teammate David Warner, re-igniting a long-running feud.

Mitchell Johnson has steamed in off a long run to take an extraordinary swipe at Aussie opener David Warner.

The Test legend has not been shy about sharing his thoughts about the current Aussie team — and famously called Pat Cummins “gutless” — but his latest attack on Warner may be the most explosive yet.

The fast-bowling destroyer on Saturday published a column in The West Australian where he has re-ignited a long-running feud with Warner and his family.

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A war of words between Johnson and Candice Warner was one of the most surprising beefs of 2023 after the West Australian called for Warner to be dropped from Australia’s Ashes tour in the UK this year as a result of his poor form.

Candice hit back at the criticism by saying Johnson was only using her husband’s name to get a headline.

Johnson responded again by calling Candice’s support of her husband “cringe”.

The feud has exploded again with Johnson now launching a seemingly unprovoked attack on the batsman.

Warner, 37, is heading into the 2023-24 Aussie summer of cricket having put it on record he plans to retire with a final New Year’s Test in Sydney.

Mitchell Johnson with wife Jessica Bratich Johnson and daughter Rubika Ann on the final day of his Test career.

Warner is determined to play the first three Tests of the summer against Pakistan and bow out in front of his home crowd at the SCG, but he only passed 50 twice as he averaged 29 with the bat over his 10 Ashes innings this winter.

Warner first made the call in June — putting Aussie selectors in the hot seat about dropping him from the team with the finish line in sight.

Former Australian all-rounder Simon O’Donnell said he believed no player had the right to decide how long they could play on at international level, but former Aussie coach Darren Lehmann said last month that Warner has earnt his farewell Test series.

It’s very obvious Johnson does not agree with his former coach, writing in his explosive column that Warner hasn’t “warranted a hero’s send off” and suggested the ball-tampering scandal is another reason Warner hasn’t earned the right to call the shots.

“Does this really warrant a swan song, a last hurrah against Pakistan that was forecast a year in advance as if he was bigger than the game and the Australian cricket team,” Johnson wrote.

“It’s been five years and Warner has still never really owned the ball-tampering scandal.

“Now the way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country.”

It’s easy to forget the pair spent five years as teammates in the Aussie Test team before Johnson’s retirement.

Johnson also took an extraordinary shot at Warner’s farewell tour by suggesting fans in Sydney will have to bring cuts of sandpaper to wave in the same way fans famously waved red hankies to honour Steve Waugh in his final Test.

David and Candice Warner and their daughters Indi Rae Isla Rose and Ivy Mae. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“What will fans bring for Warner? Bunnings would sell out of sandpaper,” he wrote.

“Ultimately, an international cricket career is not just about your statistical achievements with bat or ball. How you held yourself and how you played the game will live long after you depart.

“Australia coach Andrew McDonald said recently they will be picking this summer’s Test squad based on current performances.

“It would be nice to know how long this strategy has been in place because it doesn’t seem to have applied to Warner for quite a while.”

Johnson questioned whether selectors Tony Dodemaide, George Bailey and McDonald were too close to the current squad of players to make the hard decisions that previous members of the selection panel had.

In one final swipe, Johnson also appeared to criticise Warner’s “ticker-tape parade” — pointing out he himself and icon’s like Steve Waugh had retired without much fanfare.

Meanwhile, attention has turned to who will replace Warner at the top of the Aussie batting order for the Test series against the West Indies in February.

Ricky Ponting is backing forgotten man Cameron Bancroft to get the gig. Bancroft was infamously busted carrying sandpaper during the Cape Town Test scandal and his career is only now recovering.

Bancroft, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris and Cameron Green have all been picked in a PM’s XI to face Pakistan in Canberra starting December 6.

Originally published as Aussie Test legend Mitchell Johnson goes nuclear in David Warner attack