Australia’s chief selector George Bailey has responded to Mitchell Johnson’s scathing attack on David Warner’s selection in the opening Test match against Pakistan.
In his column for the West Australian, Johnson called out the integrity of selection, saying Bailey is too close to the playing group to make objective and tough calls.
“I’ve been sent little snippets of the article. I hope he’s okay,” Bailey said in response at a press conference on Sunday.
Johnson had slammed Warner for not owning the ball-tampering scandal, saying: “The way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country”.
“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why? Why a struggling Test opener gets to nominate his own retirement date. And why a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrants a hero’s send-off?”
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.”
Bailey stressed the need to ensure there was no hangover from the departure of such an influential individual.
“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.
Think back to Warney finishing up as a spinner and how many spinners got brought in and shuffled out in the quest to replicate Warney.
“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 of time.
“That’s something we’re conscious of and making sure that fit post-David is the right one.”
The first Test between Australia and Pakistan will get underway on December 14.
