Australian great Shane Warne has told England captain Alastair Cook to expect more defeats if he sticks with the “boring” approach he adopted during the 5-0 Ashes humiliation.

A much-changed England face Sri Lanka in the first of two Tests at Lord’s on Thursday – their first series since being whitewashed in Australia and star batsman Kevin Pietersen’s ultimate axing.

Warne, regarded as cricket’s greatest legspinner and one of the shrewdest tacticians, said it was vital Cook stamped his authority on the England team, being coached again by Peter Moores after Andy Flower stepped down following the Ashes debacle.

“England’s style of play will be a reflection of Cook’s mindset and outlook,” wrote Warne in his Wednesday column for Britain’s Daily Telegraph.

“If Cook wants to stay boring and be the same old England by bowling wide of off stump and trying to build up pressure slowly, then he has chosen the wrong path.

“It was proved in Australia that it is an approach which does not work and it will be fascinating to see if they have learnt from losing the Ashes 5-0.

“Test cricket has evolved rapidly and Cook must sense the moment.”

In that context, Warne said he was disappointed England had gone back to Matt Prior as their wicketkeeper rather than picking the younger Jos Buttler who – in the recent one-day series against Sri Lanka – made a blistering century at Lord’s but had yet to make his Test debut.

“When you are restructuring the team, why pick Prior and not Jos Buttler? He has just shown how dangerous he is with the bat with a brilliant one-day hundred so stick with him while he is on a roll.

“Going back to Prior, I really believe is a backward step. I hope this is not a teacher’s, or should I say coach’s pet selection,” said Warne in a reference to the fact that Sussex keeper Prior was coached by Moores when the latter was at the south coast county.

“I played for Australia when Adam Gilchrist first came into the side. He was not a complete keeper then, but he improved and everyone wanted a Gilchrist in their team, and why wouldn’t you, because of his brilliant batting at seven.

“Well, Buttler could be your man so give him a go.”