Australia batsman Usman Khawaja has mounted a spirited defence of David Warner after former team-mate Mitchell Johnson questioned his place within the Test squad and mentioned he had not taken full accountability for the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Warner, named in a 14-man squad for the series-opener towards Pakistan, has made no secret of his hopes to bow out of the longest format after the third check at his dwelling Sydney Cricket Ground.
Johnson wrote in a column that the 37-year-old opener didn’t deserve his place within the aspect primarily based on kind, or warrant a “hero’s send-off” as a result of he had “never really owned” his half within the Newlands ball-tampering scandal.
Khawaja disagreed with Johnson’s view, saying Warner and former captain Steve Smith had performed lots for Australian cricket and their 12-month bans for ‘Sandpaper-gate’ had been punishment sufficient.
“Warner and Smith are heroes in my mind,” Khawaja instructed reporters on Monday.
“They missed a year of cricket through dark times. No one’s perfect. Mitchell Johnson’s not perfect.
“What they have done for the game – how they have grown the game – far outweighs anything else they have done.
“To say Dave Warner or anyone else involved in sandpaper (gate) is not a hero … I strongly disagree because they have paid their dues. A year out of cricket is a long time.”
Former quick bowler Johnson’s column triggered a fierce response in Australian media on Monday and criticism from some native sports activities pundits.
Former check captain Tim Paine, nonetheless, mentioned Johnson had made some “great points” about Warner’s kind.
“David hasn’t been playing well and would other people be getting the run he’s getting now? Probably not,” Paine mentioned on radio station SEN.
“But in my opinion, he’s got credits in the bank because he is one of the all-time greats.
“I think you can read between the lines that (Johnson) and Davey don’t get along.”
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
.jpg)
