Australian great Shane Warne launches stunning spray on Cricket Australia over culture report review
SHANE Warne has had his say on the Australian “Spirit of Cricket” player charter released last week in the wake of sandpapergate. And it’s not pretty.
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AUSTRALIAN cricket legend Shane Warne has had his say on the Australian player charter released last week in the wake of the sandpapegate scandal that has rocked the sport.
While discussing on Fox Sports Cricket the leadership vacuum Australian cricket is facing following the suspension of Steve Smith and David Warner, Warne was scathing in his assessment of elements of the two reviews released in the wake of the scandal.
Alluding to the p layer pact announced last week, Warne pulled no punches.
“Can I just cut to the chase here,” Warne said.
“They need to find who the best captain is for each form of the game and say ‘guys, run with me, this is the style of game we want to play’.
“Forget all the words, forget the verbal diarrhoea and all of that sort of stuff. That’s just rubbish this sort of stuff.
“Seriously, it makes you vomit.
“At the end of the day, cricket is a simple game and a performance-based game.
“You have to perform on the field.
“(Forget) all these words and everything, it’s about actions.
“I think it is all about basics.
“Get the captain and the vice-captain they lead the way and the rest of the players come after you.
“You inspire from within by your performances and the way you play on the field.
“None of this writing words, 200-page document, writing stuff up and all that. Just get out there and play better.”
Warne also repeated his belief that current one-day captain Aaron Finch has the makings of a long-term skipper.
Finch has taken over the captaincy of the ODI side, with rising wicketkeeper Alex Carey installed as his deputy and Warne said if the pair are considered the future of the ODI team then they need to be supported.
“I think Aaron Finch is good guy to captain the side,” Warne added.
“If Finch and Carey are our men, and that’s ok with me, say ‘we are the two guys, we’re going to lead by example and you guys are going to come with us’.
“Justin Langer is there to help prepare the players, the captain and the vice-captain get out there and say this is the way we are going to play.
“They lead by example, by their actions.
“What they do on the field, how they prepare, what they help the younger players with and the rest will follow.
“If the leaders of the team aren’t performing and they’re not setting a good example then that won’t create inspiration from within, it’s as simple as that.
“What they (the Australian team) are worrying about is trying to look like they are doing the right thing. You can’t forget what Australians are, their DNA. And that is hard aggressive, positive cricket and then play fairly.”
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