‘Haven’t got the guts to drop him’: Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas on WA’s issue with David Warner

Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas has warned David Warner that many of his constituents believe Mitchell Johnson hit the bullseye in his controversial column.

Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas claims many of his constituents believe Mitchell Johnson’s views on David Warner hit the bullseye but it won’t stop them giving him a dignified farewell at Optus Stadium.

Zempilas, the experienced television and radio presenter who has been Perth Mayor for three years, conceded the triple forces of Johnson’s column, the continued post-Sandpapergate snubbing of Cam Bancroft and the recent axing of Perth hero Justin Langer as Test coach complicated the mix for Warner’s farewell.

Warner’s performance in his ninth and last Perth Test is the most fascinating cog of Thursday’s first Test against Pakistan following Johnson’s fiery column in The West Australian claiming the opener’s form did not warrant a farewell series.

Australian cricketers never have to do much to alienate Perth fans with the likes of Ian Healy and Allan Border stocked with stories about the days when Perth felt like an away Test.

Perth favourite Mitchell Johnson unloaded on David Warner in a fiery column. Picture: Richard Wainwright/AAP Image

“But I don’t think Warner will be booed – far from it,’’ Zempilas said.

“I think there will be an almighty roar for Warner because West Aussies love aggressive, take it on cricket. He is much respected here but interestingly there has been a lot of support for Mitchell Johnson’s column.

“It is not as if West Aussies have turned their backs on Johnson and said what he has written and said it was outrageous. I think a lot of read it and thought a fair bit of it was valid.

“If I was to say where the most opposition to Warner could be – it’s not that he is still playing or fans deciding whether he may or may not have played in Justin Langer’s demise.

“It’s just that he has been treated differently to how Cameron Bancroft has after Sandpapergate.

David Warner, Steven Smith and Cameron Bancroft’s international careers have gone in different directions since Sandpapergate. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

I do feel fans over here feel Bancroft bore the brunt of what happened in South Africa (in 2018 when Bancroft applied sandpaper to the ball).

“While Steve Smith and Warner have been able to personally recover and maintain their international careers – admittedly they are great players – Bancroft, although he did play Test cricket after that, has never really been afforded those possibilities.

“Statistically no-one can dispute Bancroft has banged the door down over the past year but still the writers, commentators and cricket people from the east are not declaring him an automatic choice to replace Warner.

“I would say the Western Australian crowd respects what David Warner has achieved on the pitch. They admire the way a bloke from grade cricket who hadn’t played any Shield matches has forged an incredible carer at the highest level.

“Tactically Warner has been smart. He has dared the selectors to drop him. Right now they haven’t got the stomach to drop him.’’

Originally published as ‘Haven’t got the guts to drop him’: Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas on WA’s issue with David Warner