Former Test rivals stir the pot on social media

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has waded into the dangerous waters of Twitter warfare, with recently-retired Australia firebrand Mitchell Johnson his surprising target.

Johnson, who tormented Smith during some hostile Australia-South Africa Test match battles, had posted a tweet in response to what he called "comments" from Smith and South African journalist Neil Manthorp, suggesting the Australians players "remember the big moments", with a montage image highlighting the Proteas' infamous run of World Cup failures. 

Smith recentlyquestioned whether the culture of the Baggy Green had changed over the past few years, suggesting recent Australia squads were "polarised", adding that captain Steve Smith looked "lost".

"As a leader, I think you need to understand that for yourself about who you are and that's the only time you can really get your team to play with that personality," he said.

"I think he's trying to figure that all out at the moment. It certainly looks that way and he looks a bit lost.

"If I I think about earlier years (Australian cricket) was always built on respect and the value of the Baggy Green.

"Maybe players didn't always get on but they respected the environment and they were traditional and they understood the importance of what playing for Australia meant.

"You kind of always got the feeling that there was a polarised sense in the Aussie team over the last few years and maybe Steve Smith has inherited that a little bit and trying to build again."

Johnson was a regular menace to Smith in the opener's decorated Test career, breaking his hand twice and having his measure in the South African’s final Test series, removing him four out of six times as Australia claimed an historic 2-1 triumph to displace Smith’s side from the No.1 Test ranking in March 2014.

Yet the record-breaking ex-Proteas skipper bit back following his country's landmark success in the Hobart Test, tweeting the former left-arm quick with a cheeky sledge regarding the margin of South Africa's win and enquiring about the sales of Johnson's recently-released book, Resilience.

But Johnson was measured in his reply to Smith this time around.

Johnson and Smith met in five Test series through their careers, with honours even at 2-2.