Not here to make friends

FORMER Test paceman Mitchell Johnson has urged Australian players not to become too friendly with their opponents, saying there’s still room for gamesmanship in the sport.

Australian cricket is under the microscope following the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa and the scathing review that followed.

But Johnson hopes Australian players don’t become too friendly on the field.

“At the end of my career I definitely felt like it was getting a bit too friendly,” Johnson said. “You couldn’t stare at the batsman, you’d always get told off. I’d definitely be getting a yellow card if I was out there these days. “It’s gamesmanship. “I never liked guys talking to the batsman and being all friendly. I’ve actually told Nathan Lyon off before because he did it. I said, ‘What are you doing, we’re not mates’.

“I’m happy to be mates off the field. But on the field, you’re out there to win.”

Australia has lost 16 of its past 18 ODIs and will be aiming to put that horror record behind them during the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, starting in Perth tomorrow.

Doubts still surround the fitness of Mitchell Starc after the star paceman experienced hamstring tightness during the two-match Test series against Pakistan in the UAE.

Johnson doesn’t want to see Australia risk Starc if the lefthander hasn’t fully recovered.

“If he wants to get through a summer, he needs to be 100 per cent right,” Johnson said.

“I want to see him back to his best. I don’t think he’s too far away. “But I think they probably need to be smart about his selection. If he’s not 100 per cent, I wouldn’t pick him.”