Focus on cricket, Hussey tells Johnson

Published: 7:21AM Friday March 05, 2010 Source: AAP

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Mitchell Johnson has avoided a suspension for his head-butt to the helmet of New Zealand batsman Scott Styris and now he needs to focus purely on cricket, Australia's "Mr Cricket" says.

Mike Hussey says while Johnson is a "passionate guy", the fiery pace bowler should be wary of the danger of getting too fired up to the detriment of the side as Australia face a mighty battle to retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

The Kiwis claimed a two-wicket win in Wednesday's opening one-day international at McLean Park in Napier with Styris hitting a six from the second ball of the 50th over to finish on 49 not out, guiding the home side to 8-281 chasing Australia's 8-275.

Johnson, who appeared to thrust his head into the helmet of Styris when the pair had a mid-pitch confrontation at the end of the 46th over of the Kiwi innings, pleaded guilty late on Wednesday to a level-two breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

The Australian was fined 60 per cent of his match fee by Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle, although he could have been banned for up to two ODI games.

Styris also gave an early plea to a charge of getting involved in a verbal encounter with Johnson that was "contrary to the spirit of cricket or (can) bring the game into disrepute".

The aggressive Kiwi was fined 15 per cent of his match fee.

Hussey says he didn't get a good view of the incident from his fielding position on the boundary, but wants to put an end to the whole thing ahead of Saturday's game two of the five-match series at Auckland's Eden Park.

"It seemed like they bumped into each other but it's been dealt with now," Hussey told reporters on Thursday.

"We didn't really speak about it at all after the game. We packed up pretty quickly and went back to the hotel.

"It was just one of those things that happens out on the field and it should stay out there.

"We just get on with our cricket from here."

Asked if cricket needed that type of intensity, Hussey said: "No, not really.

"We're certainly at our best when we're just concentrating on our cricket and looking to execute our skills and our plans.

"We believe that if we concentrate solely on executing our plans then we're a very difficult team to beat.

"(Johnson) plays the game hard and out in the middle there are always going to be emotions.

"It has happened throughout the history of the game and I'm sure it won't be the last time it has happened.

"I'm sure there's no animosity between the teams."

While Australia were unbeaten in ODI series at home this summer against West Indies and Pakistan, they are on a losing streak of five ODI games in New Zealand dating back to 2005.

"Coming to this side of the ditch, we always expect a hard contest and we're getting it," said Hussey.

New Zealand's bowling coach Shane Jurgensen said he was surprised by the Johnson-Styris incident.

"But that's just what happens in Australia versus New Zealand. There's four more games yet so we might see a bit more of that," he added.

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