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Former Australian cricket team captain Michael Clarke has weighed in on the ongoing public spat between David Warner’s wife Candice and Mitchell Johnson expressing his disapproval of both parties bringing family members into the controversy. The dispute escalated over the weekend when Johnson made personal remarks about David Warner, suggesting that the southpaw’s desire for a Test farewell on his terms reeked of the same “arrogance and disrespect” as the sandpaper incident in 2018.
Candice Warner’s act crossed the line before Mitchell Johnson’s remark
The latest exchange of words took a personal turn when Johnson revealed that his comments were in response to a text message from David, which came after Johnson’s earlier remarks about Candice. Johnson found it “weird and cringey” that Candice consistently defended her husband in the media, especially after a public appearance where she hit out at the credentials of other batters vying for Test selection on the ‘Back Page.’
In response to the escalating situation, Clarke slammed both Johnson and Candice for crossing the line by involving family members in the public dispute. Speaking on Sky Sports radio, Clarke expressed his discomfort with such public airing of personal matters, stating, “I don’t like seeing families involved. When a parent, when a friend, when a partner gets involved, I do’’t like that. I don’t like anyone talking about someone’s family or someone else’s partner – and I’m not having a go at Mitch, I’m not having a go at Candice, I’m not having a go at David – it’s just too much.”
Also READ: Usman Khawaja rallies behind David Warner amid Mitchell Johnson’s criticism
‘Family matters should remain private’: Clarke
Clarke emphasized that family matters should remain private and not be discussed in the media. He used the analogy of a parent publicly criticizing a player’s selection, stating that such comments should be kept within the family circle rather than being aired in the public domain.
“If I get dropped and my dad comes out and says, ‘What a shit selection’. I know he’s only looking after his son, but dad, mate, that’s not helping anyone.
“He can say it to me, say it to mum, say it to my sisters, say it to our friends at the pub, but you don’t need to be saying that stuff in the media. I don’t mind players having disagreements and not talking and I don’t mind seeing players see life differently and going separate ways. You’d love everyone to be friends, but that’s not the case. I don’t like seeing families involved. It’s too personal for me,” added Clarke.
Also READ: Shane Watson shares his blunt take on David Warner-Mitchell Johnson controversy; Alyssa Healy joins the conversation
As the cricketing community watches the drama unfold, Clarke’s comments highlight the need for maintaining a level of privacy and decorum, even in the midst of public disagreements among players and their families. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by individuals in the public eye and the impact of publicizing personal matters on the broader cricketing landscape.
