Veteran Australia opener David Warner’s wife Candice Warner’s recent comments have created quite a stir in the Australian cricket fraternity.

She slammed Cricket Australia (CA) for offering the least help to her husband, who was part of the infamous ball-tampering plot on the tour of South Africa in 2018.  

“Basically, from when we left the hotel in South Africa, David was wiped. There was no Cricket Australia official helping him. There was nothing. It’s like basically you fend for yourself now. It was basically, fend for yourself, see you later. Thanks for your services,” Mrs Warner said in a podcast.

Earlier, Candice featured in an Australian news debate show, called the ‘Back Page’ where she defended her husband, who is enduring an extended lean patch in the longest format of the game.

Despite his poor form, Warner has been included in Australia’s squad for the WTC final against India and the first two Ashes 2023 Ashes Tests against England.

“If Dave doesn’t perform in that first Test, who do they bring in that’s better? His form wasn’t great that last Ashes. Stuart Broad had his number I think (seven) times. So it didn’t look good for him. And he hasn’t performed well over there in the past. But who do you put in,” Candice stated.

Meanwhile, Candice Warner’s remarks haven’t gone down well with former Australia speedster Mitchell Johnson.

In his latest column for The West Australia, Johnson wrote that Warner should be facing the flak due to his lack of form.

“We’ve all appreciated Warner’s tremendous career as an opener and what he’s achieved. But that’s not what it’s about,” Johnson wrote.

“His form has not been up to scratch for a while now. Warner even had his wife Candice defending him in her panel role on the TV show The Back Page this week.

“Her loyalty might be admirable but it was all a bit weird and cringey when she said if Dave doesn’t perform in that first Test, who do they bring in that’s better? I hate that argument. If players were only judged on their previous achievements, then Dennis Lillee would still be opening the bowling for Australia and Ricky Ponting would be batting at No. 3,” he added.

Warner’s Test form has been a cause of concern since 2022. In 14 matches, the southpaw has scored just 607 runs at an average of 26.39. In his last Test assignment on the tour of India, the left-hander registered scores of 1, 10 and 15 in the three innings that he batted.