Mitchell Johnson Archives

Josh Hazlewood responds to Mitchell Johnson’s IPL criticism

Australian veteran pacer Josh Hazlewood has reacted to former speedster Mitchell Johnson’s comments about prioritizing the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Following the conclusion of the WTC final, Mitchell Johnson launched a scathing attack on Hazlewood, criticizing the pacer’s fitness and his decision to participate in the IPL, which was temporarily suspended for a week due to rising India-Pakistan tensions.

“We’ve seen concerns about Hazlewood’s fitness in recent years, and his decision to prioritise returning to the delayed Indian Premier League over his national team preparations raised eyebrows,” Mitchell Johnson remarked.

Now, the veteran pacer has replied to Johnson’s comments, noting that the IPL was the best preparatory ground for the WTC final.

“I haven’t seen any of that, to be honest,” Josh Hazlewood said when asked about Mitchell Johnson’s criticism.

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“We know what’s going on inside our rooms. It seemed far and away the best place to get ready for any type of cricket that was coming up. The weather was definitely a factor as well. Just getting over there and playing intense competition like that, it’s hard to replicate in training,” he added.

Josh Hazlewood further emphasized the weather in Australia while stating that India was the best place to bowl under the circumstances.

“Sydney, it was raining and I had literally nowhere to bowl. I got to Brisbane for three or four days and it was very wet. We were lucky to get on. I just thought the best place to bowl was India,” he said.

“We were still in the competition, we were going to play semis, and I was going to be there for 10 days. I think it was comfortably the best option,” the right-arm pacer concluded.

For context, South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets in the WTC final, clinching their maiden title.

The defending champions’ bowling quartet could not rise to the occasion in the second essay while defending a 282-run target.

Josh Hazlewood, who was pivotal in the Royal Challengers Bangalore maiden IPL triumph, could only manage to claim two scalps in the all-important WTC final.

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Former cricketer slams Josh Hazlewood for prioritising IPL over WTC final

Former Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson has launched a scathing attack on fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for returning to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 just before the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Josh Hazlewood, returned to the resumed IPL after recovering from a shoulder niggle during the final phase of the tournament and helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in clinching their maiden title in 18 years.

IPL 2025 was suspended for a week during the border tensions between India and Pakistan.

The pacer was instrumental in RCB’s maiden title, taking 22 wickets from just 12 matches.

Now, Johnson raised doubts over Hazlewood’s fitness, stating that his decision to prefer the IPL has sparked speculation.

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“We have seen concerns about Hazlewood’s fitness in recent years, and his decision to prioritise returning to the delayed Indian Premier League over his national team preparations raised eyebrows. Lyon didn’t look his best on day three either,” Mitchell Johnson said.

The pacer also criticised Australia’s bowling quartet, noting that they are not an automatic selection in the team.

“Our successful ‘big four’ bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon can’t be taken for granted as a lock going forward either,” Johnson said.

Mitchell Johnson highlighted the looming Ashes set to be played at the end of this year while questioning the rationale behind benching some of the in-form players.

“If veteran players are sticking around just for the Ashes as a send-off, it does beg the question of whether that’s the right mindset. It’s crucial that we embrace the future and build confidence in selecting our next Test players.

“Players on the fringe, such as Sam Konstas, Josh Inglis, and Scott Boland, despite being 36, have a different mentality. They’re eager to prove themselves every time they get a chance,” he concluded.

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David Warner brushes off Mitchell Johnson’s criticism

David Warner brushed off scathing criticism from former teammate Mitchell Johnson over his selection for Australia’s Test series against Pakistan, saying Friday: “Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions.”

Johnson lashed out in a newspaper column after veteran opener Warner was picked for the three-match home series starting next week in what is expected to be his Test farewell.

Mitchell Johnson questioned why the 37-year-old should get a “hero’s send-off” given his recent poor Test form while bringing up Warner’s central role in the “Sandpaper-gate” ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

Steve Smith and David Warner were both banned for a year for their part in the notorious incident.

“It wouldn’t be summer without a headline,” Warner said at an event to launch broadcaster Fox Sports’ summer cricket coverage.

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“It is what it is. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions. But moving forward, we’re looking for a nice Test over in the west (of Australia).”

The first Test starts in Perth on December 14 before moving to Melbourne and then Sydney, where David Warner is hoping for an emotional farewell in front of his home fans.

Warner’s long-time opening partner Usman Khawaja rallied behind him following Johnson’s comments, saying that “no one’s perfect”, with allrounder Glenn Maxwell also offering support.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins said the team were “fiercely protective” of the 109-Test veteran, who has been a fixture of the side for 12 years.

“I think we protect each other a lot. We have been through a lot over the years,” he said, sitting alongside Warner at the same broadcast function.

“Our boys, I’ve played alongside someone like Davey or Steve (Smith) for a dozen years now. (We are) fiercely protective of each other.”

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Usman Khawaja defends David Warner after stinging Mitchell Johnson criticism

Usman Khawaja jumped to the defence of his opening partner David Warner on Monday after stinging criticism of the veteran batsman from Australian great Mitchell Johnson.

Former fast bowler Johnson hit out after Warner kept his spot in Australia’s squad to face Pakistan in the first Test later this month despite a poor run of red-ball form.

The three-match home series against Pakistan is expected to be Warner’s farewell to Test cricket.

The decision to keep faith with Warner provoked a strong response from Johnson, who questioned why his former team-mate should be given a “hero’s send-off” in light of his poor Test form.

“Can somebody please tell me why?” he wrote in The West Australian newspaper at the weekend, also bringing up Warner’s central role in the notorious “Sandpaper-gate” ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

Steve Smith and Warner were both banned for a year for their part in the scandal, but Khawaja told reporters on Monday: “Davey Warner and Steve Smith are heroes in my mind.”

“No one’s perfect,” Khawaja added.

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“Mitchell Johnson isn’t perfect, I’m not perfect, Steven Smith isn’t perfect, David Warner isn’t perfect.

“What they’ve done for the game from a positive point of view… far outweighs anything else they’ve done.

“So for (Johnson) to imply that Davey Warner or anyone else involved in the sandpaper (scandal), is not a hero, I strongly disagree with that.”

The first Test against Pakistan in Perth starts on December 14, before the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, then Sydney, beginning January 3.

Warner has indicated he plans to quit the five-day game after the Test at his home Sydney Cricket Ground but will continue in white-ball cricket.

Warner was in scintillating form at the recent 50-over World Cup, but he has scored just one Test century since early 2020 and has averaged only 28 since the 2019-2020 summer in Australia.

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