SAS Australia: Candice Warner’s message to Mitchell Johnson after cricketer reveals his 11-year demons

Candice Warner had a message for Mitchell Johnson after the Aussie cricket great spoke about his on-field demons on reality TV.

Candice Warner posted an emotional message of support to Mitchell Johnson after the former Australian cricketer tapped out of Channel 7’s SAS Australia, after revealing the grim toll English fans’ sledging took on him during his career.

During a physical challenge on Tuesday evening’s episode of the military-inspired reality series, the celebrity contestants were made to lug a 100kg log up rough terrain to the top of a mountain. Johnson quit in the middle of the task.

Watch the 2020/21 Marsh Sheffield Shield LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

“I can’t make excuses, it’s just not good enough,” he cried.

In an emotional phone call with his wife, Johnson broke down as he revealed he was coming home.

“I just couldn’t do it. I just thought mentally I’d be a bit stronger,” he said.

Taking to Instagram, Warner — the wife of Johnson’s former teammate David Warner — praised the ex-fast bowler.

“@mitchjohnson398 is such an incredible human. Losing him from our team tonight was a huge blow,” Warner wrote.

“He showed os much strength, fight and courage throughout his time on the course and was always caring for others.

“When Mitch was playing cricket I had the privilege of touring with him and his beautiful family. You won’t meet a more dedicated athlete, husband and father.

“Be proud of what you have achieved Mitch. You are a national treasure!!”

Mitchell Johnson is one of Australia’s greatest ever bowlers.

During Tuesday night’s episode, Johnson opened up on the effect an insulting chant had on him during a lacklustre Ashes series in 2009.

In the second Test at Lord’s, Johnson struggled to find consistency with his bowling at the home of cricket. The paceman finished the match with 3/200 and Australia lost by 115 runs.

England’s supporters, widely known as the Barmy Army, penned a cheeky chant for the Australian left-armer, which resonated around cricket grounds for the remainder of Johnson’s professional career.

Johnson remained Australia’s most experienced pace bowler leading into the highly-anticipated 2010/11 Ashes, but the series could not have started worse for the Queenslander.

England’s batsmen showed no mercy against Johnson’s wayward bowling, and he finished the first Test at the Gabba with horrific figures of 0/170 off 42 overs. He was promptly dropped ahead of the next match in Adelaide.

“I think when you’re playing an elite sport, you have to have that confidence,” Johnson said on SAS Australia.

“(The 2009 Ashes) didn’t really go to plan. I bowled a bit all over the place. And that’s where the Barmy Army started (the chant), ‘Bowls to the left, bowls to the right, Mitchell Johnson your bowling is sh**e’.

“The media, the Barmy Army really did get to me. I was singing the song in my head when I was playing — so emotionally it had a massive impact on me, and I just sort of fell apart.”

RELATED: Candice shuts down Channel 7 hosts

Mitchell Johnson on Channel 7's SAS Australia.

Earlier in the series, the former pace bowler revealed his battle with depression.

He also admitted to losing his love for the game during a tour of South Africa in 2011, where he claimed three wickets at a dismal bowling average of 85.00.

“I got to the point where I wasn’t enjoying being a professional cricketer,” Johnson said.

“I wasn’t enjoying being looked at and judged all the time. I just took everything personally. I was physically exhausted and I was mentally exhausted as well.

“I got to the point where I just did not care about cricket one little bit. It wasn’t even a thought in my mind. I just didn’t have that belief in myself that I was good enough.

“I struggle with confidence at times and I’m in that transition now where I have been out of playing cricket now for two years.”

Asked if he had found that transition into retirement difficult, Johnson answered: “Yeah. I found out I have got depression. I think the depression was something I’ve had even from a younger age. Cricket sort of blocked things out of the way, it sort of hid the depression.

“But there were a lot of times where you go back to your room … you’re away from family and you start to dwell on things. Through my cricket career I just dealt with now. It’s just about me now moving forward and taking it upon myself and be active and to keep my mind going.”

Johnson is Australia’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in history, bettered only by Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Nathan Lyon and Dennis Lillee. He finished his Test career with 313 wickets at 28.40.

Mitchell Johnson on SAS Australia.

— with Bianca Mastroianni