Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has acknowledged the troubles Tim Paine may have with the Barmy Army, and has offered the beleagued ex-skipper some advice.
”It’s going to be very difficult. It’s very difficult,” he said on 2GB’s WWOS Radio.
“He’s pretty confident that he can (handle it) so I think that’s a good start if you have that confidence.
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“But I’ve already seen something on the news that the Barmy Army have already got the songs ready and waiting.”
The hordes of English fans serenaded the left-arm quick with a simple refrain of: “He bowls to the left…he bowls to the right…” And well, you know the rest.
Johnson responded in the best way possible – his 2013/14 Ashes is one of the best ever by a bowler, and he was given the player of the series award as the Aussies won 5-0.
Yet he admitted that despite conquering them in that series he was never really able to take them out of the game.
”They do get to you. If I had any advice it’s to be really prepared for it as best you can, and try to block it out,” he said.
“I don’t know how he will do that, but we’ll have to wait and see I guess.”
Sledging and banter from crowds can often saddle the line between good-natured and mean-spirited, but given the serious nature of Paine’s indiscretions, the latter seems more likely.
And one chant that’s already been leaked, to the tune of ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’ features a line saying “Advice came in from Warnie, send a picture of your bone.”
Johnson recalled advice from the likes of Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee early in his career that every player has to find their own way of dealing with crowd noise.
“My problem was I started singing all the songs because they’re so catchy, that’s the issue,” he said.
“You don’t realise at the time it actually has a bit of an effect on you. He’s going to have to figure a way to block it out.”
Whether or not Paine can respond to the treatment with the bat and gloves remains to be seen – but Johnson said it’s best to just be thrown in the deep end when it comes to things like this.
“He’s going to have to experience it to be honest. The only way you can deal with it is actually going through it unfortunately. They are going to give it to him,” Johnson said.
“His teammates will be there for him, and hopefully someone can take the songs or the discussion away from him a little bit. The only way he can do that is going out and taking heaps of catches and scoring runs.
“It’s difficult to block out. It’s one of those things you have to experience unfortunately.”
Paine will join up with the Ashes squad in the coming days, ahead of the first Test at the Gabba on December 8.
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