Shane Warne — who says Australia skipper Michael Clarke needs current cricket people around him rather than muppets — has offered his advice on how to play spin bowling.
The TV commentator and legspin great was on hand in Chennai to watch Australia’s eight-wicket loss in the first Test against India and offered the team some valuable insights, coach Mickey Arthur said on Wednesday.
Warne engaged Arthur and Warne’s close mate Clarke in a 20-minute chat on the field shortly after play ended on day five on Tuesday to discuss tactics for the second Test in Hyderabad on Saturday.
It’s not known if Warne told Clarke and Arthur — who are part of Australia’s five-man selection panel — that they should have picked two spinners for the first Test.
Back-up spinner Xavier Doherty is surging towards a possible Test recall this weekend after offspinner Nathan Lyon (3-215 and 1-29) had a tough start to his first series in India as a Test spinner.
Warne also spoke with Lyon and Doherty, who is considered a good chance to either play as a lone spinner or partner Lyon in Hyderabad.
“After the match, Michael Clarke invited Shane Warne to come and speak to some of our players about playing in India,” Arthur told cricket.com.au.
“Shane spoke to our spinners about the conditions and his experiences in such conditions while he also spoke to our batsman about what a spin bowler is thinking about before they come in to bowl and what sort of plans he would have had in mind.
“His knowledge of spin bowling and insights for our batsman on what spin bowlers are thinking provided some valuable insights and I’m sure our guys will take those points on board before the next Test.”
Warne has said ex-New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming would be the best man to coach Australia, and called for former Australia Test skipper Mark Taylor to move into a senior role as general manager of cricket in place of ex-Wallaby player Pat Howard.
“We have the best batsmen / captain in the world in @MClarke23 – He needs current cricket people to help him out not muppets !!!”,” Warne said on Twitter last month.
“Can CA please put current cricket people in charge to run the game (and) select teams, not ex rugby or any other sportspeople plse (sic), seriously!!!”
