Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has launched a scathing attack on his former teammate and current national selector George Bailey, accusing him of downplaying his article and questioning his mental health.
The feud between the two cricketing greats erupted after Johnson penned an article in the West Australian newspaper, criticizing David Warner’s decision to announce his retirement from Test cricket.
In the article, Johnson questioned Warner’s form and accused him of arrogance for demanding a farewell Test. “Warner certainly isn’t Australia’s Test captain and never deserved to be for that matter. In fact, he ends his career under a lifetime leadership ban,” Johnson said in the West Australia newspaper.
READ MORE: “Arrogance & disrespect”″, Johnson Hits Warner For Past Deed
Bailey, in response, questioned Johnson’s understanding of the situation and suggested that his mental health might be affecting his judgment. This comment didn’t sit well with Johnson, who accused Bailey of trying to discredit his article by using his mental health struggles against him.
“To ask if I’m OK (by George Bailey) because I’ve had mental health issues is pretty much downplaying my article and putting it on mental health, which is quite disgusting,” Johnson said on his podcast.
Bailey Got Involved in Johnson-Warner Feud with a Quirky Remark
Johnson further expressed his disappointment with Bailey’s communication style, stating that he would have preferred a face-to-face conversation rather than receiving condescending text messages.
“I’m fine. I’m not angry. I’m not jealous. I’m just writing a piece that for me I felt like I needed to write. It’s basically having a dig at someone’s mental health and saying that I must have something going on, a mental health issue, has made me say what I’ve said. That’s not the truth.
“That’s completely the opposite. I’m actually clear-minded. It sort of tries to downplay the questions that I’ve asked in that article … It seems very childish from George and condescending.”
“I would have preferred to have a conversation with those guys, face-to-face. The best way to do it. To get those messages I felt it was disrespectful,” Johnson added.
Bailey apparently texted Johnson to express his disapproval of a column Johnson wrote about Cricket Australia forcing young West Australian bowler Lance Morris to take a break from Sheffield Shield matches.
Johnson wasn’t pleased with Bailey’s message, calling it condescending and typical of Bailey. Johnson felt that receiving the message at an odd hour was disrespectful.
Johnson expressed his preference for having in-person conversations to resolve issues rather than receiving text messages. He felt that the messages were disrespectful.
Johnson’s article about Lance Morris was based on his own experience with back stress fractures. Johnson believes that his experience qualifies him to write about such matters..
