Cricket firebrand Mitchell Johnson calls for ‘dramatic change’ to Australian Test team with truth bomb

Fast bowling great Mitchell Johnson believes Australia’s selectors should use the upcoming Test series against Pakistan to make “dramatic changes” to an aging team.

In an explosive newspaper column last week, Johnson said David Warner did not deserve a “hero’s farewell” this summer given his involvement in the notorious Sandpapergate cheating scandal in 2018.

Warner, 37, is set to retire after the series, but Johnson believes he shouldn’t be the only one preparing to move on.

In his last column for Western AustraliaMitchell notes that eight players in the expected Australian squad are aged 32 or over.

Warner’s first partner Usman Khawaja is 36 years old and Captain Steve Smith is 34 years old. Nathan Lyon is 35 years old and Mitchell Starc is 33 years old.

Johnson believes Australian selectors should use the Test series against Pakistan to make a “dramatic change” in the direction

Johnson noted that eight players in the expected Australian squad are aged 32 or over.

“The places are up for grabs as the Australian Test team prepares to enter a period of dramatic change, with eight players from the likely squad to face Pakistan in the first Test at Optus Stadium this week aged 32 or over,” Johnson wrote.

“At 29 years old, Marnus Labuschagne is the youngest player in the expected squad.

“It’s funny thinking back to when I was injured at 30 and trying to get back into the team.

“I have heard a lot of talk about how 30 is too old to be a fast bowler and that is the age when you have peaked or start to lose your best form.

“Australia must look to this building of the future.”

The former fast bowler has urged the selectors to unleash the “wild thing” of fast bowler Lance Morris this week.

“We have a great opportunity to blood some young or high-performing players this summer, especially against two teams from Pakistan and the West Indies who have struggled in Australia for a decent period of time,” Johnson wrote.

“Fast bowler Lance Morris, 25, should be the first one. With Perth likely to feature a fast and energetic innings, there could be no better place for the young scrappy player to make his Test debut.

Steve Smith, 34, has not announced his plans to retire.

Khawaja, 36, says he is still enjoying cricket and has not given a date for when he might retire.

Earlier this week, Steve Smith’s manager dismissed ideas that the captain could retire after recent rumors surfaced.

“I can refute that at this point,” Warren Craig told the Sydney Morning Herald. “He still talks about the things he wants to achieve.”

Both Khawaja and Lyon also said they plan to continue playing until further notice.