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Leg-spin legend Shane Warne is the best captain Australia never had – no argument about that.
Warne had the tactical and leadership skills to be captain, but was never named in Australia’s second-most important job thanks to his off-field behaviour.
But for sheer cricket nous and tactical genius, Warne would have made an outstanding skipper – as he proved for the Vics and Hampshire in county cricket.
Having acknowledged his leadership qualities, Warne has another string to his bow – delivering a serve through an off-field sledge.
During his playing days, he had a shot at Australian coach John Buchanan on a range of issues in a true clash of strong personalities.
Despite being the most successful coach in Australian cricket history, Warne regularly clashed with the man they called ‘Buck’, describing him as reinventing the wheel.
It would be fair to say it wouldn’t have mattered whether the coach at the time was Buchanan or ‘Joe Blow’ he would have been in Warne’s cross-hairs.
In more recent times Warne gave giant Australian paceman Mitchell Starc a serve, describing him as ‘soft’.
And Warne was quite right, despite strong denials from Starc.
Strange how Starc started to fire not long after the Warne outburst, and has been firing ever since.
Warne struck a nerve with Starc, and he’s struck another since by suggesting current coach Darren Lehmann is over-stepping the mark with his decision-making.
Warne said Michael Clarke is the boss, he’s the Australian captain and it’s his word that counts, not Lehmann’s. Warne has a point.
But the fact Lehmann wears two important hats as coach and selector, and Clarke only one as captain, there was always going to be some rocky moments.
It’s how Lehmann and Clarke handle those moments that can make or break their partnership, one that is the most vital to the success of the team.
Lehmann has dismissed Warne’s dart as just being ‘Warnie’.
But anyone who ignores what Shane Warne has to say, does so at their own peril.
Warne is not everyone’s cup of tea, but even his knockers have to agree he’s switched on. Despite what many would say, he doesn’t make headlines just for the sake of creating a headline.
It’s done with a purpose.
Warne was right about Mitchell Starc, let’s see how the Warne quotes pan out about Darren Lehmann and Michael Clarke.
We won’t have to wait for long.