Australia batsman Usman Khawaja has mounted a spirited defence of David Warner after former team-mate Mitchell Johnson questioned his place within the Check squad and stated he had not taken full duty 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 take a look at at his residence Sydney Cricket Floor.
Johnson wrote in a column that the 37-year-old opener didn’t deserve his place within the facet primarily based on kind, or warrant a “hero’s send-off” as a result of he had “by no means actually owned” his half within the Newlands ball-tampering scandal.
Khawaja disagreed with Johnson’s view, saying Warner and former captain Steve Smith had executed loads for Australian cricket and their 12-month bans for ‘Sandpaper-gate’ have been punishment sufficient.
“Warner and Smith are heroes in my thoughts,” Khawaja advised reporters on Monday.
“They missed a yr of cricket by means of darkish instances. Nobody’s good. Mitchell Johnson’s not good.
“What they’ve executed for the sport – how they’ve grown the sport – far outweighs anything they’ve executed.
“To say Dave Warner or anybody else concerned in sandpaper (gate) shouldn’t be a hero … I strongly disagree as a result of they’ve paid their dues. A yr out of cricket is a very 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 take a look at captain Tim Paine, nevertheless, stated Johnson had made some “nice factors” about Warner’s kind.
“David hasn’t been enjoying effectively and would different individuals be getting the run he’s getting now? Most likely not,” Paine stated on radio station SEN.
“However in my view, he’s bought credit within the financial institution as a result of he is without doubt one of the all-time greats.
“I believe you possibly can learn between the traces that (Johnson) and Davey don’t get alongside.”