Justin Langer drags Shane Warne into former Test teammates' swipe at David Warner

Former Australian coach Justin Langer has hit out at the criticism levelled at retiring Aussie opener David Warner from Mitchell Johnson earlier this month and even dragged the late Shane Warne into his argument. Langer coached the Australian cricket team from 2018 to 2022 and has been around the set-up for years.

Knowing both players well, Langer admitted he was disappointed to see the former fast-bowler blast Warner in a column. Johnson took aim at Warner in a fiery piece when he declared Warner didn't deserve a "hero's farewell" due to his form and accused Warner of arrogance having signalled his plan for a dream SCG Test finale.

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Johnson's words has sent shockwaves through the Australian cricket community with Warner responding: "It is what it is. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions. Moving forward, we're looking forward to a nice Test over in the west." Former captains Ricky Ponting and Mark Taylor have both weighed-in on the drama that has overshadowed Australia's first Test of the summer.

And now Langer has given his thoughts. Speaking in his own The West Australian column, the former Aussie coach revealed he doesn't like the notion of criticising a former teammate in public. “In simple terms, I hate it when men from the rare club of playing cricket for the Australia air any of their grievances publicly,” he wrote.

“I believe in a simple ethos of, ‘praise in public, criticise in private.’ In other words, if you want to say something publicly, be positive and use the opportunity to praise the person you are talking about. In contrast, if you want to criticise someone, look them in the eye and tell them how you are feeling."

He even used Warne as an example. The legendary spinner criticised former teammate Steve Waugh after their illustrious careers and Langer said his public criticism never sat well with him. “It never made much sense to me when our great mate Shane Warne publicly criticised Steve Waugh or John Buchanan," he added. "All three of these were (are) my friends, and Warney’s view, while he had every right to share it, never sat easy with me."

Ed Cowan critical of David Warner's recent form

Warner has averaged 22.8 across nine Tests this year and just 30.1 across 11 Tests last year. There is no doubt for some time has been under pressure to keep his spot after poor performances in England and India where criticism mounted.

And former teammate Ed Cowan has admitted most people would agree with Johnson's position on Warner's form. Cowan played 18 Tests for Australia and batted alongside Warner at the top of the order.

The opener is aware of what it takes to hold your position in the Australian team and Cowan admitted while Johnson's column may have gone too far, he does not think he was wrong about Warner's form. "Mitch Johnson is saying what 90 per cent of people in the pub have been thinking," Cowan told The Grandstand Cricket Podcast.

"What I didn't love ... was the tone. There was a sense of anger or injustice to it. But the actual points around selection - statistically David Warner probably shouldn't be in the best XI - I think most people would agree with."

When asked on who should replace Warner at the top of the order, Cowan went left of field and called for Travis Head or Marnus Labuschagne to move up. This would allow Cameron Green to slot back into the team down the order.

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