Shane Warne said Paul Collingwood would be known as the man who “did not show the right sportsmanship” after his failure to withdraw a run-out appeal against New Zealand.
England one-day captain Collingwood’s decision to persist with an appeal against Grant Elliott, following the New Zealand all-rounder’s failure to make his ground after being knocked over accidentally by bowler Ryan Sidebottom, sparked an angry response from the furious Black Caps.
Fortunately for New Zealand, Elliott’s exit at The Oval on Wednesday did not prove decisive as they fought back to win a thrilling match by one wicket off the last ball and so take a 2-1 lead heading into Saturday’s finale at Lord’s.
Tempers were further calmed by mutual post-match apologies from Collingwood and New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.
But Collingwood was widely criticised for a failure to uphold ‘the spirit of cricket’. And his insistence afterwards he’d only had a “split-second” to make up his mind was contradicted by Elliott needing at least two minutes of on-field treatment.
Collingwood, who was asked by English umpire Mark Benson if he wanted to go through with the appeal, could have recalled Elliott any time before the batsman crossed the boundary rope.
Things got worse for Collingwood when he was banned for four matches after England, for the second occasion under his leadership in the last 12 months, failed to bowl their overs in the required time.
Warne, who until last season was the captain of English county Hampshire and who recently led Rajasthan to victory in the inaugural Indian Premier League, said the fact Collingwood made the ‘wrong’ decision when given time to make up his mind would be held against the all-rounder.
“We all make mistakes on the field when things are tight and a decision is needed in seconds,” Warne wrote in his column for Saturday’s edition of Britain’s Times newspaper.
“But what disappointed me was that he (Collingwood) had time to weigh up the options. Unfortunately it is something that he will have to live with.
“He will be known as the man who who did not show the right sportsmanship when he had the opportunity.
“I want to be constructive, not slaughter the guy. Yes, we have had the odd difference on the field, but he has my respect as a cricketer and a person.
“The big thing is that the captain runs the show. He is the one – not the coach – who determines how a team are remembered.
“Wins and losses are important, but so is the way you play the game.”
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