Mitchell Johnson has scoffed at Cricket Australia (CA) inviting him to an awards night just a week after the governing body cancelled two of his speaking engagements.CA axed two of the retired fast bowler’s guest speaking jobs right through the first Test in Perth final week because of his highly controversial column approximately David Warner and chief selector George Bailey.
Johnson, who is commentating on radio with Triple M this summer, had kept quiet after it used to be revealed he had been stood down from the paid talks.
But the former left-arm firebrand quick let rip on social media after receiving an invite to the 2024 Australian Cricket Awards.
“Is Cricket Australia serious??,” Johnson wrote on Instagram, including a screenshot of his invite and the Rage Against The Machine song ‘Take the Power Back’.
“Final week I used to be cancelled from 2 speaking engagements. This week I’m invited to celebrate with them.”
Johnson tore into Warner, his former Australia team-mate, approximately the opener’s “hero send-off” and opened up old wounds from Sandpapergate in an explosive article for the West Australian.
Mitchell Johnson worked as a broadcaster right through the first Test•Getty Images
The 42-year-old used to be also critical of Bailey’s position, saying his other former team-mate had a clash of interest in deciding on Warner’s future.
After the heavy criticism, Warner came out in the opening Test against Pakistan and smashed 164 to assure his SCG farewell from red-ball cricket.
Johnson later admitted the column used to be personally motivated after receiving messages from Warner and Bailey earlier in the year.
“I tried to ring [Warner] to talk to him approximately it, which I’ve at all times been open approximately with the guys,” he explained on his Mitchell Johnson Cricket Show podcast with broadcaster Bharat Sundaresan.
“It used to be never a personal object then. Until that point. That’s what prompted me to write the article, or a part of it, as polite. It’s definitely a factor.”
Warner has refused to add fuel to the fire, saying Johnson is entitled to his opinions.