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Tensions boil over between Scott Styris and Mitchell Johnson - Source: Getty -
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Mitchell Johnson admits he went too far with his clash of heads with New Zealand batsman Scott Styris.
But Johnson is adamant it wasn't a head-butt.
ICC Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle fined Johnson 60 per cent of his match fee after the first one-day international on March 3 in Napier and Johnson will accept that.
But in his first interview since the incident, Johnson says the most upsetting thing in the week following the incident wasn't the hostile reactions of fans in Auckland and Hamilton.
"The only thing I'm quite annoyed at is that it has been classed as a head-butt," Johnson said in Auckland this week.
"Really it was just me and him coming together and there was contact.
"I'm not that silly. I'm not going to head-butt someone with a helmet on.
"I think at that time Hadds (wicketkeeper Brad Haddin) saved me from it going any further. He pushed me out of the road.
"But, look, there's all that emotion between the teams, both sides were saying things and it got to the stage it did.
"Now it's out of the system and I'm pretty happy with where I am. There was nothing personal in it at all.
"The banter out there is fine."
Johnson shook hands with Styris immediately after the aggressive Kiwi hit the winning runs at Napier's McLean Park.
Australia have since won three games in a row to retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with game five to be played in Wellington on Saturday.
"Scott has been a great player for New Zealand for a long time," Johnson said.
"I guess being a fast bowler you try to put yourself out there and be aggressive at times.
"It was a tight game and it was just one of things things that happened. Australia versus New Zealand - something like that was always going to happen."
Johnson says he has learnt from the incident.
"I know that physical contact in a sport like cricket isn't on. I did cross the line just slightly," the ICC's player of the year said.
"I can put my hand up and say that.
"I'm not going to stop being aggressive when I can and being competitive otherwise I'd feel like a robot.
"We know it's going to get pretty emotional with these two sides. It is such an emotional and fiery rivalry.
"In the first game I let the emotions get to me a bit and maybe a few of the other guys did as well.
"We've reined that back and we're in a good position at the moment where we're playing our cricket and not worry about the opposition."
