Revealed: The real reason Mitchell Johnson was sacked by Cricket Australia after his shocking attack on David Warner

Cricket Australia axed Mitchell Johnson from two speaking gigs out of fear of any blowback from Pat Cummins’s players in Perth. 

The former left-arm quick was scheduled for two guest speaking appearances at Optus Stadium as Australia took on Pakistan last week.

However, Cricket Australia stood the Ashes hero down because it was their view that his criticisms of David Warner in an explosive column had gone too far. Mike Hussey stepped in for Johnson at the lunch events.

And now journalist Robert Craddock reports that Johnsn was muzzled in an effort to appease the playing group who had thrown the full weight of their support behind Warner. 

‘I believe it was Cricket Australia’s call, however, I do believe it was done to short circuit any chance that the players would blow up about it,’ Craddock said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

Johnson was due to make two guest speeches during the first Test in Perth

‘I didn’t think they would have, I really don’t. I don’t even think they’d have found out about it.

‘There’s so much happening in a Test match with speakers coming and going that if Mitchell Johnson comes in a room (the players wouldn’t know).

‘The other thing about Johnson is don’t underestimate his smartness and sensibilities, to be able to read the room and say, ‘I stand by what I said, but I got a bit personal and I regret that’.

‘Some people call that entertainment. We live in a world in such political correctness.’

Craddock theorised that Johnson’s appearances would have been acceptable in other sports, but cricket takes ‘itself a little bit too seriously’.

‘Mitchell Johnson of course had a volcanic column criticising David Warner and George Bailey,’ he added.

‘Had it just been on stats and limited to man versus stats, it would have been fair enough.

However, Cricket Australia axed him amid his explosive row with David Warner

It has been claimed that Cricket Australia feared blowback from Warner’s teammates

‘But it became a little bit personal so Cricket Australia thought it was a bad look to then celebrate Johnson by having him as a guest at two functions in Perth.

‘Had this been rugby league, the organisers of the functions would have said, ‘How good is this, geez I hope he fires up’, because what I love about that sport is it just survives on bushfires which keep burning and everyone gets the narrative.

‘There’s players swapping clubs, there’s a bit of feuding, there’s a bit of drama, but in the end it doesn’t mean too much and it’s all part of the soap opera of sport.

‘Cricket, I always feel, falls a little bit short-changed in that regard. It takes itself a little bit too seriously.’