Warne’s bad boy image hit for six

EVERYONE loves a stoush in sport and Australian cricket royalty Shane Warne delivered with his antics Sunday.

A cosmetically enhanced Shane Warne explodes during a conflict with West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels in a charged Big Bash League Twenty20 game between the Melbourne Stars and Renegades last Sunday. Picture: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

EVERYONE loves a stoush in sport and Australian cricket royalty Shane Warne delivered with his antics Sunday.

But is Australian cricket's 'bad boy', quick to blame his mother for indiscretions (drug test anyone?), still all that bad?

Taking to the field for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League Twenty20 competition against the Renegades, Warne turned heads locking horns with star West Indies import Marlon Samuels.

Warne was unhappy at Samuels tugging on team mate's David Hussey's shirt so stepped in and let his mouth fly.

Things escalated when Warne antagonised his rival further by throwing an underarm ball in Samuel's direction.

The West Indian reacted by hurling his bat down the pitch. Umpires were then needed to break up the conflict.

Warne has since paid dearly for his rush of blood, fined $4500 and slapped with a one match suspension. He was able to avert a charge for throwing the ball at Samuels.

Anyone who saw the incident surely must find Warne unconvincing as the bad boy.

His styled dyed hair and fake tan, coupled with his Botox face, betrayed his intentions to be gruff.

Warne's mouth flew a hundred miles an hour but watching his forehead remain oddly still and frozen just stole the show. It was a bit like watching Nicole Kidman act.

Warnie has lost the right to play the role of Australia's bad boy of sport.

Sure, back in his heyday with his untamed hair and beer-induced figure, Warne would have stolen the show.

Now he is Liz Hurley's pin-up boy, a plaything for her to style. Something very much like a Ken doll.

Incidentally, is Liz Hurley suffering from an unrelenting case of concussion affecting her decision-making?

I digress and it's important to be fair. Warnie stepped up the bad boy image when, shortly after his biff with Samuels, a Scottish judge fined Warne after being nabbed for speeding late last year

Clocking up 160kmh in a 110kmh zone, Warne's lawyer argued his client had a good traffic history and showed an "error of judgment."

Perhaps Australia's king of spin was running late for his Botox injections, a hairdresser's appointment or just another layer of fake tan.

What's now certain is Warne's bad boy image has crumbled and his dear mother can't take the blame for this one.

Originally published as Warne’s bad boy image hit for six