Australia v Pakistan: Nathan Lyon on the Mitchell Johnson-David Warner feud ahead of first Test

With Mitchell Johnson getting set to pass judgement on his former side once more in Perth on Thursday, what will happen if he crosses path with former teammate Nathan Lyon?

Nathan Lyon says he will treat Mitchell Johnson cordially if they cross paths at Optus Stadium this week as the pace great prepares to once more pass judgment on his former side.

Having set the cat among the pigeons with a scathing column in the West Australian in which he took aim at former teammates David Warner and George Bailey, Johnson will this week be behind the microphone for Triple M when Australia takes on Pakistan in the first Test, which begins on Thursday.

It means there is the prospect that Johnson could run into outgoing veteran Warner and selection chair Bailey.

Johnson’s relationships with members of the national side were already strained following a column he wrote last year in the wake of Justin Langer’s departure as national coach.

Lyon, Warner, Bailey and Johnson were all members of the Australian side that whitewashed England in the Ashes 10 summers ago.

Then still a junior player in the Aussie XI, Lyon is now a senior part it.

Nathan Lyon says he will treat Mitchell Johnson cordially in Perth this week. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Lyon has past Johnson for wickets in recent years, heading into the first Test with only Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath ahead of him.

Despite Johnson’s stinging and personal critiques of Warner and Bailey, Lyon said he would greet Johnson, who starred in the 2013-14 romp, if he came across him during the week.

“I’d say hello to him, I’ve got no dramas, I’d say hello to anyone,’’ Lyon said.

“He was pretty incredible in that 2013-14 Ashes. I’ve got some very fond memories.”

Lyon has in recent years shot past Johnson and many other of Australia’s greatest bowlers to sit outright third in the list of most Test wickets for the nation.

With only Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in front of him, Lyon will enter this week’s match with 496 Test wickets in what will be his first Test appearance since the serious calf injury that ended his Ashes campaign at Lord’s.

After a strong preparation, Lyon said he had no concerns about his calf withstanding the rigours of Test cricket.

“I’ve had the mentality of trying to rehab this like no one’s ever rehabbed a calf injury before,” Lyon said.

“So I’m really proud of the work that I’ve done personally but also with the likes of Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW.

“I feel like we’ve done everything possible along this way to make sure that we’re in a really good spot physically with the numbers but also mentally.

“So I’m feeling really confident, really happy with where things are at and it’s just about going out there and performing.”