Dear Shane, Firstly, can I just say how much I admired you as a cricketer. Like a lot Poms of my age, I grew up idolising you, wishing you could have been born in Manchester not Melbourne.
You were one of the few sportsmen who transcended national allegiances.
Losing countless Ashes series back to back was made all the easier as you were the arch destroyer.
I spent every daylight hour in summer in the nets trying to bowl leggies.
By the end of the season my wrist would ache, and I would have weeping blisters up my finger.
When you retired, I was genuinely sad. One of my idols had hung up his boots.
I needn’t have worried about not hearing much from you after your retirement though, and this is where my issue lies.
As bizarre as I find your surgically enhanced face, and who slightly odd it feels to see you in much more svelte shape post retirement, it isn’t this that gets to me.
These elements aren’t what is tarnishing my memories of you.
Hell, your reputation even grew when we all learnt that you had snared another of the fascinations of my formative years, Liz Hurley – the definition of batting above your average.
My issue is your inability to keep your mouth shut.
I concede, many of your opinions are valid, and while you keep saying they are only personal opinions, that isn’t really worth much when they are plastered all over the media across the cricketing hemisphere.
In your recent, repetitive blathering about Alistair Cook, there is some merit.
His captaincy could be a bit more imaginative. On field does he have a lot to learn from Michael Clarke? Absolutely.
But that is only half the issue. Cook’s England are united. The team all like the skipper.
They respect him, they play for him. Can you say the same for your mate Pup? Not exactly.
Would a united Australia have provided a more credible threat to England in the series that ended a couple of months ago? Yes.
Your claim that Michael Clarke would captain a world XI at the moment took me a little by surprise. Would he even be in the XI?
Slots in the middle order are hard to come by with competition from the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Hashim Amla, AB De Villiers, Ian Bell, Shiv Chanderpaul, Kumar Sangakkara and more.
That is not to say that Cook would definitely be in there either, with competition from Shikar Dhawan, Graeme Smith and others, but he would likely have shorter odds than Clarke to make the team.
The other elements that you seem to have omitted to mention are the performance of both Cook and England under his leadership.
Since taking charge England have lost just once, and Cook’s performances for the most part have exceeded his career averages before taking on the top job.
I fully expect him to make up for a barren English summer with another strong performance down-under over the next three months. Pretty good leadership I would say.
Clarke himself has performed extremely well over his time as captain, but unfortunately for him his team haven’t followed his lead.
What does that say about his captaincy?
I will freely admit that there is much more to the performance of international sides than the strengths of their captain, but let’s face there is not a huge gap in talent between Australia and England at the moment.
This suggests that England must have the more complete team in terms of harmony, the will to play for each other, and the important attitude to put the team first.
I find it hard to believe that this kind of attitude exists in the baggy green camp, and that issue sits firmly at the captain’s door.
Shane, I understand that you and Pup are mates.
I understand that you and KP are mates (no he should not be England captain – again – we learnt that lesson a few years ago).
I understand that you and Swanny are part of the spinners guild, but I think you may have pushed this boat far enough.
Give it a rest Shane.
Let’s have some constructive analysis of why Australia are consistently under performing, or whether Fawad Ahmed is ready for Test cricket, or some tips on how best to maximise your winnings with pocket aces.
We don’t need more hot air about what is holding a highly successful and functional England XI back, especially when there are much more significant issues closer to home.
I have in this letter, Shane, only picked on one example of your diatribes, that often leap to the defence of your mates in the game and skirt around the issues that are perhaps more important.
There are more, but that is for another day.
You are a legend of this game, and many players (Michael Carberry for example) owe you a huge amount.
Cricket in general owes you a huge amount for bringing wrist spin back into fashion. People like you are once in a generation, or perhaps rarer.
So, I implore you, pull your head in. Please don’t tarnish your legend.
ChrisUK
Guest
I see in his latest article - a tribute to Tendulkar - he has claimed he was in the commentary box for his 241 due to injury. Not because he was banned for failing a drugs test.
colvin
Guest
We don't want Warney to keep his mouth shut. In fact we want the reverse. We need Warney to save us from impending disaster that looks like being our lot when the Ashes series starts on November 21. Every one knew Warney produced and was about to implement a business plan to save Australian cricket and by association the future of the Australian nation. Remember what's been going on? The cunning and devious English worked out a way to distract Warney's brilliant mind. First they introduced Liz Hurley to Warney and that ploy was immediately successful. Warney couldn't resist and his attention to his business plan wavered. But with the Ashes coming up Warney refocused on his plan. So the devious English then worked out another plan to divert Warney's attention once again. Liz dumped Warney, jetted off to New York a couple of times and then engaged the services of the likes of Sir Ian (Beefy) Botham, Hugh Grant, (who is afraid of Liz because of the way Liz responded to his antics with one Ms.Brown in LA a few years ago), Sir Elton John and a few others to work on Warney and keep his mind off cricket. It looks like the English succeeded with their plan. Warney's business plan has not been implemented and consequently it looks like the Ashes are now a sure thing for England. Once again, for goodness sake. It looks like a national disaster for Australia coming up. The only thing that can save us now is if Warney can suddenly focus on the Ashes and use his talent to play mind games with the English team. We know this because historically we know England hang on to and believe everything Warney says. It's because of their awe in the ball of the century. But Warney must focus on Australian cricket. So Warney. don't listen to the likes of manalien. Keep talking. The Australian nation needs you now more than ever.
Billy
Guest
+1
Mahler
Guest
Warne has to keep talking and talking - because without the talk he has no walk anymore.
Francis Curro
Roar Pro
Shane will always have his opinion. The reason the media always writes about it, is that he was a once in a lifetime cricketer.
Deccas
Guest
6 batting spots, last year he scored more runs than any other batsmen, made 2 200s against the best attack in world cricket (on roads but still, no one else did it). for the sake of the exercise I think it would go Smith Cook Amla Chanderpaul Clarke De Villiers Sangakarra (one of those last two taking the gloves) Steyn Philander ajmal anderson I think Smith would be captain, and Clarke VC. I think this is evidence of south africal being the best!
gbrown2
Guest
from a pom well said are you sure your not an aussie with forged pommie papers
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Oath, ridiculous statement to suggest he wouldn't be selected in a world XI. That one loaded comment reduced the credibility of the whole article. Still... Warney needs to shut it.
David
Guest
If you think SKW is going to take any notice of this stuff, you are dreaming. Even if he read it, which is highly unlikely, he would just ignore it or consider it rubbish. Get used to Warne offering his opinions on all things cricket for the next 40 years or so - he gets paid handsomely to do it and he needs the money for his ongoing cosmetic surgery.
Borderline
Guest
Agree. Aussies are getting really sick of him shooting his mouth off.
davros
Guest
I think this is a very pertinent and relevant article ...maybe warnie should heed the advice....I think KP for captain probably a bit dumb ...at best he is a very divisive figure
Chui
Guest
"Clarke himself has performed extremely well over his time as captain, but unfortunately for him his team haven’t followed his lead. What does that say about his captaincy?" Ummmm. How about that the rest of the team aren't that talented? "Cook’s England are united. The team all like the skipper" Does KP? Genuine question. "I fully expect him to make up for a barren English summer with another strong performance down-under over the next three months. Pretty good leadership I would say. " So, your prediction is an indicator of good leadership? And yes, Warne should just go away.
ChrisUK
Guest
I don't think any of the England batsmen would either. But I don't agree Clarke would waltz into a world XI. There are several candidates. Sangakkara, De Villiers, Chanderpaul and Amla are all ahead of him in the rankings, and while the rankings are a snapshot, Sangakkara is a true great and would always be ahead of him. The others, well we can argue. But he wouldn't waltz in.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Agree with all, except Clarke would waltz into the world team. He will be the highest ranked batsmen in the upcoming series, and if he cant get in then neither would any of the English top order. shut up shane.
CJ
Guest
I agree the boofhead should pull his head in.
Dan
Guest
Clarke would be nearly first picked in the world XI -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Atgm
Guest
Happy/positive
Atgm
Guest
He has criticized clarke for not keeping a happy/ ve environment within the group.so this article doesnt make sense now.