Shane Warne has delivered a sobering verdict on Australia’s Ashes preparations, ripping into Tim Paine’s captaincy and tipping England to be more competitive than many other judges expect.
Warne told Fox Cricket’s World Cup Live show that there are “a lot of gaps” in Australia’s Test side and that the hosts lacked a fear factor, while also criticising several key figures in the team.
Warne opted for Marcus Harris over Usman Khawaja to open the batting with David Warner but said neither choice gave him confidence.
“When you think back to Australia and think back to Ashes series in Australia, England have been very, very poor for a long time when they come to Australia. But I just look at the Australian side and there’s a lot of gaps,” Warne said.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
“Our fast bowlers – Pat Cummins looks short of a gallop and we know he’s going to come good because he’s world class. But Starc’s nowhere, (Josh) Hazlewood’s bowling well.
“But apart from that, we’ve got (David) Warner not making a run. Who’s he going to open with? (Marnus) Labuschagne and (Steve) Smith at three and four, but who’s going to bat (at) five? (Cameron) Green is still a young player that looks pretty good. Paine, he’s had a shocker the last couple of years as captain, tactically he’s been very poor, lost the last two series and can’t make a run.
“Our side’s not as great, this ‘almighty Australia’.
“But here’s the big thing: No one fears Australia anymore. Coming to Australia, everyone used to go ‘oh we’re going to have to be at our best to even compete’. Now they just believe they can beat Australia – every side.”
Warne said Travis Head should be given an opportunity at five while Harris was preferred over Khawaja, the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield so far with two centuries in three matches.
“They (Harris and Khawaja) are both ‘we hope they do okay’ if they go with Khawaja or Harris … They should be better than what they are, they’re just not scoring the runs they should be,” Warne said.
“But it’s got to be one of those guys, whoever’s getting the form. Khawaja has shown a bit of early form, but it’s about form at the right time. So if Harris comes good with a couple of hundreds just before the first Test, he might get the nod.”
Australia are strong favourites to win but Warne said England should not be underestimated.
“I look at England and I think their batting looks really weak. But Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, (Jos) Buttler has this form and suddenly they’re looking pretty good,” Warne said.
“Their bowlers, (Jimmy) Anderson and (Stuart) Broad haven’t done that well here in Australia, but they’ll bowl well enough. It’s who’s going to be with them … What spinner? Jack Leach with the old Kookaburra ball?
“You’d say Australia are favourites, but given their recent form in the last few years here in Australia – we were been beaten by India’s C-team last year and we were really poor tactically – I think it’s going to be very, very close. I think it’ll be a good Ashes series.”
Meanwhile Mark Waugh told Fox Cricket England could cause problems.
“I can see England being competitive in a few Tests – maybe the Adelaide Test where it’s going to swing with the pink ball, so I think they’re a threat there. (But) I don’t think their spin’s a threat at all,” Waugh said. “Australia should win.”
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It was a no-ball.
He is quite a good cricket brain when he talks seriously during his commentary, but true - he is too easily led into the 'best Pizza toppings' style of commentary, the same rubbish articulated in the now famous article by Geoff Lemmon
Clear as mud
Guest
Lucky many non-Suns fans weren’t looking for that role to define his legacy
Clear as mud
Guest
All of this prudish stuff about his personal life. Oooh, a famous person is virile. How shameful
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
My favourite thing about Warne's entire career is that his high score as a batsman was 99. Going for a 6 to bring up his maiden hundred, but getting caught on "filthy slog". It was probably a no-ball too.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Painful to see John’s agreeing he should have rotated bowlers against India . I called out for it ore match at mcg and after it. http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/the-ashes/australia-will-definitely-implement-rotation-policy-during-ashes-series/news-story/a7d8c891c80cc7edf9260a4aacb0f8c1
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Healy mentioned labs should be elevated to open which is one of my statements in here for some time . Next . oh donny your reaching and proclaiming to know more than three of our greatest cricketers . Keep swinging Donny boy . When you say something sensible happy to agree to it but you do constantly make up things and even prophecise about what games I have watched and don’t . Let’s just say having watched Every English Australian home and away series live in each country ringside since 1992 on both sides of the globe it’s probably more than you don won but that’s a guess . Don’t get emotional don stick to the cricket facts or opinions and you’ll be ok instead of personal mud slings you are wrong about
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Haha you know more than one of our greatest captains our greatest bowler and one of our greatest wicketkeeprs . Pull the other leg Donny . Now we can understand your ego here . When you pull the baggy green on come back to us all
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I do know more these days if they are arguing your silliness. The fact is, they argue nothing. They have just made silly pronouncements, as you have, with no backing, no argument...just errors and statements. By the way, Healy has said no such thing. Desperate now, aren't you? In fact, you speak such rubbish, I doubt you've ever left whichever country you live in and I'm certain you've never seen a live test. People who know cricket, don't talk about it the way you do.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Actually I did I flew back for Adelaide and mcg tests live so wrong again Donny . Always home at Xmas cricket addict my friend. Emotive rubbish is more your end don. When Healy Waugh and warne back up my comments there is nothing emotive but I guess you know more than them Donny boy
Clear as mud
Guest
Younger than Simmo. And better!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
He was a good player for sure. I was just after a laff. And you are as nearly as parochial as me; nearly. ----- You are right re Warne and Captaincy. There's a lot of player's who have one or two captaincy aspects down pat but glaringly hopeless in others. Pup was an astute captain tactically but a poor people person. Warne would've been great for he has a cricket brain. As you'd know I'm a big fan of having the person with the right chops in as captain. Warne wasn't one. But arguably the greatest spinner of all time. Definitely the best matchwinning spinner of all time.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Scotty Muller was a good little bowler. It wasn't his form that got him dropped, it was an injury on tour in his first test, and then the infamous Hobart Test where Shane Warne showed why he was never worthy of Australian captaincy. He played during a period where it was bloody tough just getting a game for Queensland, let alone Australia. Took over 100 Shield wickets at 23.5, playing his last match in a Shield Final victory over the Mexicans at Allan Border Field.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Scott Muller? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
QLD is an interstate migration destination. It's only natural for sport to reflect society in this regard. They are all Queenslanders. As for needing to import players, I thought you knew that every Queenslander is born with inherent cricketing talents. That's why so many want to come play for us. SA is just making up the numbers.
Mike
Guest
Yes, I think Warne is out of his mind. He reminds me of other sporting geniuses like Campo and Maradona. Brilliant on the field but loose cannons off it. Easy "rent-a-quote" stops for any journo needing a story. I've just been reading about Warnie sending inappropriate DMs to big brother contestants that are half his age and he's never met! Seriously? And he's still angry about and wondering why he was never anointed Aust cricket captain. Can anyone imagine Border, Taylor or Waugh carrying on with their private lives in such a manner? The bottom line, for me, is always take anything Warnie says with a big grain of salt. Sometimes he's right and other times there's a not-to-be-trusted, secret agenda going on. Despite all that, best bowler ever to watch in action and I miss those days!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
...and in that time, I watch it in Australia. You didn't, yet you try to talk about Australian cricket with that gap in your knowledge. Stay with English cricket. Do you see how vacuous that argument is? Pierro, rather that try to argue your credentials, why not just show it by talking sense instead of emotive rubbish?
Clear as mud
Guest
Yes I acknowledged both those digs I agree with your overall assessment about the patchiness of most of our batters It’s the quoting of Paine’s average, the couple of really good knocks, to try and shore him up. He has done no more than every other keeper (excluding Gilly), I argue less, but better than Nevill. And because I agree with you about style and intent, it is very frustrating that he continually fails to deliver a massive or telling innings - he actually has not realised his potential. It’s either mental, or age. Now He is old, a fading keeper and a pretty poor skipper. We have keeper batters who will bat as well as he has, probably better. Would much prefer to get a Carey in at 28 not 32. That’s all it is. He’s not bad, he’s just not great the way a lot of people make out.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
15 years more than you I suspect don in uk watching ashes there . I think with limited cricket this year we need to go with a few of our best performers . Usually after a losing series at home heads rotations should bebnoted . Not sure any have out of our test team . Maddinson and khawaja are the two pushing for selection so far out of shield . They have to be in the mix if they continue this form . Head is with them as well if he can find some form again in final two shield matches
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Two scores in a row. No problem with any player when they demand selection. 3 or 4 more big innings and I'm with him. But eastern states demanding selection after one good game in 3 years is ridiculous. Your 15 years in England explains the limitations of aspects of your knowledge.