The controversy surrounding Andrew Johns' inclusion in New South Wales' Twenty20 squad has reached new heights with John Howard, the Australian prime minister, wading in with his views.

Howard, a cricket fanatic, slammed the decision to pick Johns, suggesting that his involvement would cheapen the shortened form of the game, as it showed Twenty20 was "entertainment, not serious cricket".

"It's not for me to say you can't do it," Howard told an Australian radio station. "I don't run cricket, I only follow it and love it. It's up to the people who run it."

But whether or not Johns does make his debut, Howard isn't such a big fan of Twenty20 anyway. He does, however, recognise its importance in the grand scheme of the game. "It does draw an audience and I'm a cricket traditionalist, but if it brings new people into the game, that's great, but don't expect me to be a spectator at Twenty20, thank you."

Yet while he wouldn't want to watch from the stands, he wouldn't rule out playing Twenty20 - although there was one thing that may hold him back: his ability. "I'd only be available for an Australian team," he said, "but I don't think I'd get chosen, mate."