'I Got A Message From Dave': Mitchell Johnson Reveals 'Disappointing' Text From David Warner That Made Things Personal

In a latest twist regarding the stand-off between Mitchell Johnson and David Warner, the former has cited a 'disappointing' text message from the veteran opener behind making it personal. Johnson revealed that he cannot mention some of the things from the message and it acted as a driver for him to write that column.

After Johnson accused Warner of disrespect and arrogance over his 'farewell' Test series this home summer, he and George Bailey have traded blows. Bailey suggested that Johnson's current mental state is not where it's supposed to be and that he shouldn't comment unless he is in others' shoes.

Speaking on The Mitchell Johnson Cricket Show podcast, the 43-year-old recalled that Warner's text came in after his wife highlighted the lack of candidates to replace the opener in the side.

"It was around the time that Candice had said on The Back Page about there not being openers good enough to take his position. That’s when I responded to that. And I got a message from Dave, which was quite personal and I tried to ring him to talk to him about it, which I’ve always been open about with the guys. It was never a personal thing then, until that point."

What Mitchell Johnson actually said to criticise David Warner?

The contentious column in The West Australian saw Johnson condemn the veteran for not owning up his role in the infamous ball-tampering scandal. The Queenslander also believes Warner's recent Test record shouldn't get him a grand send-off.

"It’s been five years and David Warner has still never really owned the ball-tampering scandal. Now the way he is going out is underpinned by more of the same arrogance and disrespect to our country. 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?"

"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. Yes, he has a decent overall record and some say is one of our greatest opening bats. But his past three years in Test cricket have been ordinary, with a batting average closer to what a tail-ender would be happy with."