Australian player Usman Khawaja has strongly retaliated against Mitchell Johnson’s critical remarks about David Warner.
Speculation that the opening batsman David Warner didn’t deserve to be in the team has centered on Warner’s selection in the Australia team for the Test series against Pakistan. In his piece, former Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson took aim at Warner and the Australian selectors following his inclusion in the Test squad in spite of his dismal form. Many people have taken issue with Johnson’s criticism of Warner; Australia batsman Usman Khawaja described Johnson’s remarks as “harsh”.
Writing in his West Australian column, Johnson questioned “why a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrants a hero’s send-off?”
However, Khawaja stated that he views two of the three players at the core of the ball-tampering affair, Steve Smith and David Warner, as heroes.
“In my opinion, Davey Warner and Steve Smith are heroes,” Khawaja stated to the press. “They had a difficult year in Australian cricket, missing a whole year of play, but they have made amends.
“Everyone is not flawless. Mitchell Johnson has flaws. I’m not flawless. Steve Smith is not flawless. David Warner has flaws.
“What they have done to advance and improve the game surpasses all else they have accomplished.