No stranger to spin, Shane Warne has gone into damage control over his criticism of Australian quick Mitchell Starc by claiming he never called him “soft”.

Warne is feeling the heat after applying the blowtorch to Starc on Wednesday before the left-arm speedster wilted at a scorching Gabba on day one of the second Test against India, at one stage leaving the field for treatment.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann claimed he would confront his mate Warne after hearing about the “soft” comment by stumps on day one – except the legendary leg-spinner on Thursday reckoned he didn’t say it.

“I never at any stage called Mitchell Starc soft,” Warne said on the Nine Network.

“What I did do was say his body language and his presence gave the appearance of being nonchalant and he needed to improve on his body language, it all was a bit nice and soft and easy, not him.

“It had nothing to do with the heat…it (comment) was after a couple of overs.

“I stand by what I said because I agree with it.”

Warne raised eyebrows with his assessment of Starc’s erratic opening spell on Wednesday during his TV commentary stint.

“He has to change his body language, it needs to be stronger – he looks a bit soft,” Warne said.

“He needs to puff his chest out a bit, look harder.”

Lehmann was not impressed when later told of the comment.

“Soft? He used those words?,” he said.

“That’s very harsh.

“I will take it up with Shane myself.”

Starc’s partner, Australian women’s cricketer Alyssa Healy, quickly leapt to the left arm speedster’s defence.

“Any danger of something positive,” the niece of ex-Test keeper Ian Healy tweeted.

Warne seemed to sense the trouble brewing by stumps on day one after reading initial on-line reports of his comment.

“What rubbish reporting & sensationalism re my comments on Starc,” he tweeted.

“I said he needs a better presence & stronger body language when bowling…And that it looks a bit soft & a bit easy after he bowled 3 overs, nothing to do with heat or anything else.

“Poor journalism, facts plse!”