Chief selector of Australia men’s team, George Bailey reacted to the explosive article written by his former teammate Mitchell Johnson. In his write up for the West Australian, Johnson took a dig at Bailey for letting David Warner pick his farewell in Test cricket.
Australia is hosting Pakistan for a three-Test series at home which begins on December 14 in Perth. David Warner was named in the Australian squad for the first Test match and Johnson slammed the left-hander’s inclusion.
If Warner manages to retain his position for the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground commencing on Boxing Day, he stands a chance of realizing his desired farewell on his home ground in Sydney from January 3 to 7.
Johnson had highlighted how Warner had averaged 26.74 in his last 36 Test innings. In December 2022, Warner did smash a double century against South Africa in Melbourne, but since then, inconsistency has marked Warner's recent games in the longest format.
Johnson also accused him of not fully owning his part in the ball-tampering scandal of 2018. In addition to this, the former pacer targetted George Bailey on how Warner’s selection is handled. He also said that Bailey is too close to the players.
“I’ve been sent little snippets of the article. I hope he’s okay,” Bailey was quoted as saying at a press conference by ESPNCricinfo.
George Bailey defended warner, completely disagreed with Johnson’s belief that neutrality and distance is key in selection calls.
“My only observation would be if someone can show me how being distant and unaware of what the players are going through and what the plans are with the team and the coaching staff and how that’s more beneficial, I’d be all ears. I think when you’ve had someone who’s had that longevity and been so dominating in the role, it’s just to temper the expectations of whoever is going to be the replacement there,” Bailey said.
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Bailey compared David Warner to Shane Warne and how after Warne retired, Australia struggled to find a spinner to replace the legend. He said that Warner’s way of playing as an opener in Tests puts him in the same category.
“I don’t think you ever try and replicate someone who’s played a role as someone has, and done it as well as someone has, and I’d put David in that category in the way he’s opened the batting for Australia for such a long period. That’s something we’re conscious of and making sure that fit post-David is the right one,” he said.
