Mitchell Johnson on course to face David Warner following commentary confirmation
Mitchell Johnson will commentate at the opening Test between Australia and Pakistan after all following confirmation from his management he will feature in Perth.
It appeared the former Australian fast bowler had been cut from one of his media roles following a fiery blast of David Warner in a column.
Speculation Johnson had been axed ran rampant after he was left off the 18-person commentary list sent out by Triple M on Tuesday.
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Now, it's been confirmed he will join the broadcast team, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
That sets up a potential face-to-face between Johnson and Warner, who have engaged in a war of words that's engulfed Australian cricket and its pundits.
Mitchell Johnson sits with former teammate Shane Watson. Getty
The fearsome left-arm speed demon took aim at Australia's incumbent Test opener in a vitriolic column for a Western Australia newspaper at the weekend.
Johnson was none too impressed that Warner had flagged his Test retirement more than six months in advance, when players typically announce it either just before a series, before a match, or afterwards.
Warner's Test form has been largely dismal for the better part of three years and many - including Johnson - viewed the announcement as a way of guilting selectors into keeping him in the side for a farewell tour.
"Does this really warrant a swansong, a last hurrah against Pakistan that was forecast a year in advance as if he was bigger than the game and the Australian cricket team?" wrote Johnson.
The backstories and controversies that have ignited feuds involving athletes
The backstories and controversies that have ignited feuds involving athletes
"It's been five years and 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."
Johnson's reference to the ugly 2018 Cape Town sandpaper incident is what seemed to cause most angst following his bombshell column.
He later revealed on a podcast he did regret mentioning the ball-tampering saga, but also said his feud with Warner began with a nasty text message when Johnson and Warner's wife, Candice, engaged in a war of words in April.
