Candice Warner fires back after 'cringey' swipe from Mitchell Johnson
David Warner's wife has responded to a brutal barb from his former teammate.
Candice Warner has responded to a barb from husband David's former teammate Mitchell Johnson, who called her out over 'weird and cringey' comments she made on TV. Last month, Candice questioned who Australian selectors would bring in if they feel David isn't up to the task of opening the batting when the Ashes kick off in June.
There are major question marks about whether or not Warner will take his place in the Aussie XI for a blockbuster five-Test series against England. But according to wife Candice, selectors don't have any other option but to pick her husband.
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When asked on 'The Back Page' on Fox Sports whether David needs to perform in order to retain his spot, Candice replied: “Absolutely, he does. But so does the whole team.”
Candice then responded to questions about her husband's record in England when it was put to her that David has never scored a century in the UK and averages in the mid-20s. “I get all that, but if Dave doesn’t perform in that first Test, who do they bring in that’s better?” she asked.
Describing her comments as 'weird and cringey', Warner's former teammate Johnson publicly called out Candice, saying she's too biased when it comes to matters regarding her husband. “We’ve all appreciated Warner’s tremendous career as an opener and what he’s achieved. But that’s not what it’s about. His form has not been up to scratch for a while now,” Johnson wrote for the West Australian.
“Warner even had his wife Candice defending him in her panel role on the TV show 'The Back Page' this week. Her loyalty might be admirable but it was all a bit weird and cringey when she said if Dave doesn’t perform in that first Test, who do they bring in that’s better?
“I hate that argument. If players were only judged on their previous achievements then Dennis Lillee would still be opening the bowling for Australia and Ricky Ponting would be batting at No.3.”
Candice Warner responds to Mitchell Johnson swipe
Candice responded to Johnson's swipe on Wednesday, telling the Herald Sun: “It doesn’t surprise me because he doesn’t have a lot to do with media anymore and I feel like the only way he gets a headline is by using David’s name. Everyone takes his comments with a grain of salt. They don’t have a lot of merit.”
Candice also revealed she will be heading to the UK to support her husband in the Ashes. However she won't be there for the first Test due to her daughters' school commitments.
“The last time we were over there I gave birth to Isla (our youngest daughter) and she’ll get to celebrate her fourth birthday in England,” Candice said. “I can’t be taking too much time off with my work commitments but for every parent the juggle is real. David takes it one game at a time and as a family we back him and believe in him.”
Outside of a double century at the MCG in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, Warner hasn't posted any real scores of note over the last 12 months. He was dismissed in the 90s three times in the last Ashes series in Australia in 2021/22, but the runs have largely dried up ever since.
Aussie selectors have picked openers Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw in the squad for the World Test Championship final against India and Ashes against England. However it appears increasingly likely that Warner will get one final crack and open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja.
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