Why CA dropped Mitchell Johnson from speaking gigs at Perth Test

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Speed demon Mitchell Johnson was pulled from speaking at two Cricket Australia functions during the Perth Test amid the fallout from his vitriolic column slamming David Warner.

The governing body made the call to take Johnson out of the guest speaking jobs in the days leading into the game due to concerns over the tone and personal nature of his criticism of Warner and chief selector George Bailey.

Mitchell Johnson was pulled from guest speaking at two official Cricket Australia functions during the Perth Test.Credit: Getty Images

“Mitchell is one of Australia’s most celebrated bowlers, but we felt on this occasion it was in everyone’s best interests that he was not the guest speaker at the CA functions,” a CA spokesperson said.

CA is adamant Johnson was not censored, but the governing body took proactive steps to ensure their players were not upset by the former paceman turned columnist speaking at an official function run by their employer.

Johnson had been selected to speak through an agency organising the function, but CA did not sign off on his appearance in light of his fiery column, in which he slammed Warner for not accepting responsibility for the ball-tampering scandal, and nominating his retirement date while out of form.

Johnson later admitted he regretted parts of his column, including the quip that “Bunnings would sell out of sandpaper” during Warner’s farewell Test tour.

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