Johnson hits out at Warne over Starc criticism in first Ashes Test

Mitchell Starc bowled Rory Burns with the first ball of the match at the Gabba but Shane Warne was critical of the delivery, calling it a leg stump half-volley

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

The video will auto-play soon8Cancel

Play now

Root stands by decision to bat first despite crushing defeat

Former Australia quick Mitchell Johnson has taken issue with Shane Warne over comments he made about Mitchell Starc’s dismissal of Rory Burns in the first Ashes Test.

Starc bowled Burns with the first ball of the match and Warne, who was on commentary for the host broadcaster at the time, was critical of the delivery.

“That’s a half-volley on leg stump,” he said. “It’s a great start from the Aussies and Mitchell Starc but as an opening batsman you gotta be able to hit that.

“You shouldn’t miss that ball, a half-volley as a left-hander . . . I don’t think there’s any swing is there? There’s no swing!”

Speaking on ABC Grandstand, Johnson slammed Warne’s comments, saying: “I feel like it crushed the moment a bit.

“How he said ‘Oh, it was going down leg side. It was only because the batsman fell over.’ But it hit the leg stump, it swung back around his leg.

“I feel like that got taken away from Mitchell Starc. I think sometimes we have to just enjoy those moments. I definitely enjoyed it because I love watching Starcy bowl.”

Warne has been particularly critical of Starc over the years and had called for him to be dropped in favour of Jhye Richardson.

Warne later took to Twitter to defend his comments about Starc, writing: “What a terrific 1st over that was from Starc. If he steams in like this & swings it – nobody (including me) would question his spot.

“This wasn’t the Starc we saw last summer or at the World Cup. Fantastic for Aust that he’s found his mojo. Let’s hope it continues”

Johnson has previously hit out at Warne’s criticism of Starc, telling Wide World of Sports last month: “We all know that Warnie loves to get his opinion out there – and he’s deserved it, as well.

“I guess the frustrating thing from Starcy’s point of view is that it’s always Warnie saying the same thing.

“I don’t know if they’ve even spoken one on one… I just wonder if Warnie actually contacts him and has a chat with him about what he thinks, gives him some advice, instead of just saying it in the media for show.”