Melbourne, Dec 28: Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc has hit back at former compatriot and legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne, saying he has been at his back for years and he was not worried by his criticisms any more.

"Warnie's been on my back for years, so I'm not too worried about it," Starc was quoted as saying by the "Sydney Morning Herald".

The comment came in the wake of the leg-spinner and commentator criticising Starc for what he deemed his lack of presence in his follow-through at the Gabba and termed him as "soft", after which the quick was ushered out of the Test team for the 11th time in his still formative, stop-start career.

"I'm still waiting for his phone call. Apparently he called me," Starc said when asked about Warne in the wake of a standout performance for Sydney Sixers in their Big Bash League win over local rivals the Thunder.

On hearing Warne's comment during the match, Starc retorted: "I was playing cricket. I wasn't listening, He's getting paid to talk, I'm getting paid to play cricket."

IANS