By Ollie Lewis for Daily Mail Australia
08:39 20 December 2023, updated 08:45 20 December 2023
- The real reason for Mitchell Johnson’s dismissal has been revealed
- Johnson was scheduled to perform two speaking events in Perth
- But Cricket Australia feared a negative reaction from the playing group
Cricket Australia has excluded Mitchell Johnson from two speaking engagements for fear of any negative reaction from Pat Cummins’ players in Perth.
The former fast bowler was scheduled to make two guest appearances at Optus Stadium when Australia took on Pakistan last week.
However, Cricket Australia suspended the Ashes champion because in their view his criticism of David Warner in an explosive column had gone too far. Mike Hussey replaced Johnson on lunch occasions.
And now journalist Robert Craddock reports that Johnson has been muzzled in an attempt to appease the playing group that has thrown the weight of its support behind Warner.
“I think it was Cricket Australia’s call, however, I think it was made to shorten any chance the players might blow up about it,” Craddock said on the SEN 1170 breakfast show.
I didn’t think they would do it, I really don’t think so. I don’t even think they’ve figured it out.
“There is so much going on in a Test match with speakers coming and going that if Mitchell Johnson came into the room (the players wouldn’t know).”
“The other thing about Johnson is never to underestimate his intelligence and sensitivity, so you can read the room and say, ‘I stand by what I said, but I got some personal stuff down and I regret it.’”
“Some people call this entertainment. We live in a world with such political correctness.
Craddock assumed that Johnson’s appearance would have been acceptable in other sports, but that cricket took “itself a little too seriously”.
He added: “Mitchell Johnson of course had a sharp column criticizing David Warner and George Bailey.”
If it were just about stats and just men versus stats, it would be fair enough.
“But it got a bit personal, so Cricket Australia thought it was a bad look to celebrate Johnson by having him as a guest on two occasions in Perth.”
“If this had been rugby league, the event organizers would have said: ‘Oh my goodness, how good is this, I hope it catches fire’, because what I love about this sport is that it survives the bushfires that keep burning and everyone gets a narrative.
He added: “There is an exchange between players for clubs, there are a few disputes, and there is a little drama, but in the end this does not mean much and it is all part of the sports series.”
“I always feel like cricket hasn’t changed a bit in that regard. It takes itself a little too seriously.