Mitchell Johnson podcast: Test quick lashes George Bailey, doubles down on Warner sledge

Mitchell Johnson has opened up over the catalyst for his stunning criticism of David Warner and George Bailey, and lashed out over questions about his mental health.

Mitchell Johnson is “disgusted’’ at selection chairman George Bailey questioning his mental health, branding it “childish’’ and “condescending.’’

The outspoken former Test quick has explained his reasons for his volcanic column in The West Australian which attacked Bailey and the decision to select opener David Warner for the first Test.

Speaking on The Mitchell Johnson Cricket Show (available on all platforms) with co-host Bharat Sundaresan, Johnson stands by his words, revealing recent terse text exchanges with Bailey and Warner fuelled his fire.

Johnson admits the tone of the article may at times have been too personal – and he regrets one reference to fans buying Sandpaper at Bunnings – but the article was his idea and written after several month’s consideration.

Quizzed about the article on Sunday, Bailey asked “Is he OK?’’ which Johnson, who has had mental health issues, considered out of line.

“To ask if I’m OK (by George Bailey) because I’ve had mental health issues is pretty much downplaying my article and putting it on mental health, which is quite disgusting I think,’’ Johnson told Sundaresan.

Former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson. Picture: AAP

“I’m fine. I’m not angry. I’m not jealous. I’m just writing a piece that for me I felt like I needed to write.

“It’s basically having a dig at someone’s mental health and saying that I must have something going on, a mental health issue, has made me say what I’ve said. That’s not the truth.

“That’s completely the opposite. I’m actually clear-minded. It sort of tries to downplay the questions that I’ve asked in that article … It seems very childish from George and condescending.’’

SOME KEY EXTRACTS FROM THE INTERVIEW …

WHY THE STRONG WORDS

“Look, it sort of came about I think over the last few months. Something I had been thinking about. At times, looking at David Warner’s performances on the field. I explained a lot of it in that article.

“I’ve heard, like everyone else has, that Dave wanted to retire from cricket at this point at the SCG. He told everyone before the Ashes series. That didn’t sit with me well again as I say, it’s my personal opinion.”

DOES HE WRITE IT HIMSELF?

“I do have a ghost writer but I also write most of it. In the last six months, I’ve really had a crack at writing my articles. But it needs to be tidied up.”

WAS HE HAPPY WITH THE ARTICLE?

“There is one thing I wasn’t that happy with. I didn’t notice it at the time. I was reading the article and just sort of went with it. The ‘Bunnings’ and the ‘sandpaper’ part of it. Probably distasteful. That was probably something that didn’t need to be said.”

WHY BRING UP SANDPAPERGATE?

“The reason that came up is that I just don’t look at statistics. I look at the whole picture. And I’m not trying to bring up those old things. But someone to get a farewell and to be in that position that he was and what they did back then, that didn’t quite sit right with me, that’s why I brought it up.’’

HAD HE FALLEN OUT WITH WARNER?

“From the message I got in April. It was around the time that (Warner’s wife) Candice had said on the Back Page about there not being openers good enough to take his position. That’s when I responded to that. And I got a message from Dave, which was quite personal and I tried to ring him to talk to him about it, which I’ve always been open about with the guys. It was never a personal thing then. Until that point (when he got the message). That is what prompted me to write the article or part of it as well. It’s definitely a factor. Some of the things that he mentioned in that message. I won’t say it because that’s up to Dave to say if he wants to talk about it. There was some stuff in there, which was extremely disappointing what he said and pretty bad to be honest. That sort of was a bit of a driver.

“And a bit with George as well. He’d sent me a message after the Lance Morris article (about Morris being rested in a Sheffield Shield game). It was just a bit condescending. Typical George sort of stuff. When you receive at odd hours in the morning, it was disappointing.”

Johnson says the column was spurred by a message from David Warner in April. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

IS HE ANGRY OR BITTER?

“No, I’m not angry. I’m OK. I’m not jealous. I’m just writing a piece that for me I felt like I needed to write.”

WHY BRING IN BAILEY?

“It sort of feels like it ties in. The selectors have talked about picking guys on form. If you look at David’s form, because the article is about him. His form in England wasn’t great. So you sort of go that’s not picking someone on form. I’ve written good articles about David as well. I’ve always said that I’m a very different thinker. I’m not a traditional cricket player. I didn’t play a lot at a young age. I didn’t grow up with it as much as others. I always questioned things and had a different thought process.

“And I probably was set off by receiving a message from him (Bailey) at odd hours in the morning and him not showing the respect to make a phone call. That’s pretty much that.

“The thing I struggle with the most is not having those phone calls. I would have preferred to have a conversation with those guys, face-to-face. The best way to do it. To get those messages I felt it was disrespectful.

“And that Lance Morris article was based on my experience as well. I had back stress fractures. I had four of them. I’ve got this position because of my experience. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs. I’ve copped it from the crowds because I bowled a couple of wides in my career and I came out on top. And I feel like I’m in a position to write what I write because I’ve gone through all of it.”

George Bailey and Mitchell Johnson no longer see eye to eye. Picture: Sarah Reed

HEARD FROM ANYONE IN THE CURRENT TEAM SINCE THE ARTICLE?

“No.

FORMER TEAM-MATES?

(checks his phone) “I have had a few messages from a few past players. Not too many that were complimentary I guess. In the end, I am not looking for that validation. That’s another thing. It’s nice to have that support but I don’t need it. I stand by what I write.”

HOW ARE YOU COPING?

“Mostly good. I’ll be lying if there isn’t a little bit of me going, ‘Ahhh doubting it..’ but mostly good mate. I’m in a good place. Been working on stuff for myself. It’s been an overall good year for me personally.

“I’m all good. I will be doing some commentary for Triple M in the first Test. We’ll see what happens there.”

IMPACT OF SANDPAPERGATE?

“It all goes back to South Africa (Sandpapergate) for me still. I’m just so disappointed in how that stuff happened. It’s definitely had an impact on how I’ve written at times. It’s definitely also changed the way I enjoy the game as well. I honestly don’t enjoy the game as much, watching certain players play. There are certainly so many good players play who are in that team at the moment. I am not going to name names. It’s impacted my love of the game, just like a lot of the Australian public who have commented on this recent article.”

DO YOU FEEL ALIENATED?

“It’s funny. I remember when I had that injury in 2011, when you are out of that team, you do feel alienated anyway. Because you’re not in that core group, you’re not in that bubble and you’re not protecting each other. You have to put that wall up at times. That’s that same feeling when I went through that part of my career. I don’t recall too many guys sending texts to say are you OK? The guys, mostly the bowlers, were checking on me.

“But you do feel alienated. And when other former cricketers make comments, you wonder if they’re also getting text messages at 3 in the morning or getting nasty messages from players because they’ve said something that they feel.”

WILL HE MAKE PEACE WITH WARNER AND BAILEY?

“It’s a hard question to answer at the moment because it’s so fresh. I sort of feel like they’ve made their bed, both those guys, and they’ve made it clear to me where I stand with them. I’ll always try my best to treat people the best I can and how I want to be treated.

“The only thing I might be apologising for is that I made it a bit personal. But I think even that is warranted with the personal messaging. It’s a really difficult one.”`

Originally published as Mitchell Johnson podcast: Test quick lashes George Bailey, doubles down on Warner sledge