Former Australia left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson's criticism of David Warner hasn't gone down well with batter Usman Khawaja, who came out in strong defence of his opening partner, who is set to bid adieu to Test cricket at his home ground in Sydney in January next year. (Cricket News)
In a column for 'The West Australian' newspaper,🐼 Johnson questioned Warner's inclusion in the 14-member squad for the three-match Test series against Pakistan starting in Perth on December 14.
Johnson wrote that Warner, 37, doesn't deserve a place in the squad going by his form or merit, and he has not taken full responsibility for his role in the 'sandpapergate' ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018💝 for which he was ba﷽nned for a year.
Khawaja backed Warner, his opening partner in Test cricket, and Steve Smith, who was the Australia captain during the infamou꧅s scaꦗndal.
"Warner and Smith are heroes in my mind," Khawaj♏a told reporters on Monday.
&q๊uot;They missed a year of cricket through dark times. No oneಌ's perfect. Mitchell Johnson's not perfect.
"What they (Warꦛner and Smith) have done for the game -- how they have grown the game -- far outweighs anything else they have done.
&qu𝔍ot;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," he added.
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Khawaja also disagreed with Johnson's view that 🍨chairman of selectors George Bailey w🐬as too close to Warner.
"I'm not sure you can argue with that. (Th🅰e criticism) is harsh,&qܫuot; Khawaja said.
But former Australia Test captain feels Johnson had made so☂me good observations about 𒅌Warner's form.
"David hasn't been playing well and would other people be getting the r⛎un he's getting now? Probably not," Paine told SEN Radio.
"But in my opinion, he's (Warner) got credits in the ban🐽k♊ because he is one of the all-time greats.
"I think you can read between th𓃲e lines♋ that (Johnson) and Davey don't get along."
