Former Test captain Tim Paine’s sly dig after Mitchell Johnson bombshell

Tim Paine has given a surprise response after he was thrown under the bus as Mitchell Johnson dropped a bomb on Australian cricket.

Tim Paine said exactly what we’re all thinking after Mitchell Johnson dropped a bomb on Australian cricket.

The former fast-bowler sent shockwaves across the cricketing world when he took a personal swipe at David Warner and the opening batter’s plans to retire.

The Ashes destroyer’s explosive column in The West Australian said “arrogance” was behind Warner’s declaration he will retire after one final New Year’s Test in Sydney.

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Johnson, who was teammates with Warner for five years, even suggested the infamous sandpaper scandal was a reason for Warner to be denied a “hero’s farewell” when his batting form has not been up to scratch.

Warner, 37, 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.

Somewhat lost in the fire of Johnson’s attack on Warner, was a separate swipe Johnson took at George Bailey, a national selector.

Johnson said Bailey, who only retired from cricket in 2016, was too close to Warner and other members of the Aussie squad to make the tough call to drop Warner.

Johnson said Bailey’s handling of Paine’s exit from the Aussie Test captaincy was further proof the former Tasmanian batter’s position was compromised.

Tim Paine. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

“When then-captain Tim Paine’s career was ending over the sexting controversy, chairman of selectors George Bailey said he didn’t want to be part of deciding Paine’s fate because the pair were close friends,” Johnson wrote in the column.

“Bailey said he would leave it to then coach Justin Langer and fellow selector Tony Dodemaide to work it out.

“The handling of Warner in recent years, who played with Bailey in all three forms, raises the question of whether Bailey was simply too quickly out of playing and into the job and too close to some of the players.

“I also wonder what the role of the head selector is these days. It seems to have moved to be a part of the inner sanctum, rather than standing aside from it. There are now throw downs for the players, golfing together and celebrating wins to all hours.”

In a surprising twist, Paine said on his Hobart SEN breakfast radio show on Monday morning he enjoyed reading large parts of Johnson’s comments.

While speaking in support of Johnson’s decision to share his blunt opinions, Paine also dropped in a sly dig about Johnson’s comments losing their objectivity because of how personal he got with Warner.

Mitchell Johnson and Candice Warner and David Warner.

Paine said he couldn’t add anything when asked about the relationship between Warner and Johnson — but said exactly what we all think after reading the newspaper article.

“I think if you read between the lines, him and Davey Warner clearly don’t get along,” Paine said.

“So it’s a bit easier for him to fire a few shots at him.

“They’re just different people. I have nothing to shed on that. They’re just different. I’m only reading between the lines. Just reading that tells me that they probably don’t get along. But again some of his points about his (Warner’s) stats and his position in the team and him getting a little bit of extra time were probably ruined by the personal nature of it.

“And bringing sandpaper back into it. And saying David being a person who used his leadership role for power. I played with David and he certainly didn’t do that.

“I thought the article was pretty good. There were a lot of questions that people wanted to ask and it created a lot of interest and a lot of thought, even from someone like me.

“I thought he just went a bit too far on some things that it ruined it for me. The George stuff, I just found it a bit unnecessary.”

Paine even defended Bailey’s decision to stand down from the decision that axed Paine as captain, despite that move ultimately adding to the push from senior figures for Paine to be dumped from the team.

“If you go through what he (Johnson) said he raised some pretty valid points,” Paine said.

“The George stuff I didn’t love. I thought that was a bit unnecessary.

Mitchell Johnson unleashed hell. AAP Image/Richard Wainwright.

He went on to say of Johnson’s attack on Bailey: “That’s a valid question. He obviously thinks he does. I don’t. I work with George and I think anyone who knows George would never question his integrity or his professionalism or his ability to do that job. I think he’s done an amazing job if you look at the success they’ve had as a team.”

Paine said Warner has enough credits in the bank to be given the first shot opening the batting in the First Test against Pakistan — but said Warner should be dropped if he struggles to score runs.

Earlier, Johnson turned a flamethrower on Warner, re-igniting his feud with the batter and his wife Candice.

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.

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

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.

Johnson said Warner hasn’t earned it.

“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.”

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.

Originally published as Former Test captain Tim Paine’s sly dig after Mitchell Johnson bombshell