David Warner, Mitchell Johnson drama set to explode as Test kicks off

The long-running feud between David Warner and Mitchell Johnson is set to be reignited as the Australia Test summer commences.

The summer of cricket is set to kick off with a fierce rivalry ready to be thrust back into the spotlight.

This rivalry however won’t be played out on your television screens, but rather high up in the stands of Optus Stadium.

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Former Australian cricket stars David Warner, 38, and Mitchell Johnson, 43, are primed to revive their hostilities as the first Test between Australia and India begins in Perth after Johnson was confirmed to be in attendance for Triple M’s radio coverage.

Warner will meanwhile be making his Test commentary debut for Fox Sports’ coverage of the match.

Johnson came storming in off the long run when he delivered an extraordinary swipe in a column for The West Australian in December last year.

The fast-bowling destroyer re-ignited a long-running feud with Warner and his family as he launched a seemingly unprovoked attack.

The attack became the talk of the summer with Johnson stating Warner didn’t deserve a “hero’s send off” and called for fans to bring cuts of sandpaper to wave during his final Test in Sydney.

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

Johnson went in on Warner last year. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP)

Warner refused to bite. Picture: Julian Andrews

Johnson also savaged the Australian selectors for not using the series against Pakistan to introduce Warner’s replacement as doubt hung in the air over who would take his place.

Warner broke his silence on Johnson’s brutal clip several days later, playing a straight bat to questions surrounding the beef.

“It is what it is, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions,” Warner said.

Ahead of the opening Test of the summer on Friday, Johnson attempted to downplay the long-running feud between the pair and said the two men would be putting their focus on what’s unfolding on the pitch … not what’s going on in their respective commentary boxes.

“It’s not about it’s not about us now we’re in the commentary box - we’re there to give insight,” Johnson said to The West Australian.

Asked what would unfold if the two men happened to bump into one another in the hallways of Optus Stadium, where commentary boxes are usually right next door to each other, Johnson played a straight bat and said it would be nothing but adult.

“We’re adults. You move on. You live our own lives, and we all cross paths at some point,” he said.

“So from my point, I’m an adult, he’s an adult. You say, ‘good day’ and wish each other best, which, yeah, I don’t take too much out of that whole situation.”

Johnson is ready to move on. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

Warner could bring fireworks to the commentary box. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

While Johnson is ready to let bygones be bygones, Warner is being backed to replicate his explosive batting technique with the microphone in hand as a member of the Fox Cricket team.

Warner made a name for himself throughout his career as an aggressive opening batsmen and Brett Lee said it’s that same brutal nature viewers can expect from him when the first Test commences.

“That’s what you want in broadcasting,” Lee said.

“You want someone who isn’t afraid of sharing their views and different aspects of their game.

“He’ll definitely bring that to the table, 100 per cent.”

Warner will take his place in the Kayo/Fox Sports commentary team alongside Adam Gilchrist, Wasim Akram, Ravi Shastri, Harsha Bhogle, Isa Guha, Michael Vaughan, Mike Hussey, Allan Border, Mark Waugh, Kerry O’Keeffe, Brendon Julian, Mel Jones, Mark Howard and Alyssa Healy.

David Warner the commentator. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Johnson is once again set to join the Triple M team for the Perth Test after being announced on the morning of day one along with Lee and Aaron Finch.

The former Aussie trio will join Mark Taylor, James Brayshaw, Mark Howard, Merv Hughes, Greg Blewett, Mark Waugh, Brad Haddin, Callum Ferguson, Isabelle Westbury, Lord Ian Botham, Dan Ginnane and Jack Heverin.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than Johnson, Lee, and Finch joining our iconic line-up,” SCA Head of Sports Content Ewan Giles said.

“These cricket greats add another layer of expertise and energy to one of the most accomplished commentary teams Triple M has ever assembled.

“Whether fans are at the beach, on the road, or playing backyard cricket, Triple M is their ultimate cricket companion this summer.”

The first Test between Australia and India gets underway at 1:20pm (AEDT) from Optus Stadium in Perth.