Shane Warne is a cricketing legend no one can ignore for a long time. He is also renowned for rubbing people the wrong way at times.
This time around, in the midst of the ongoing cricket World Cup, the former Australian leg-spinner has decided to take potshots at the current Australian team.
Warne has been in the news for heavily criticising the Australian national team, including the support staff and the officials, in the process, coming to the aid of captain and close pal Michael Clarke.
Warne has criticised Australian officials for putting pressure on Clarke
While accusing the team, the 45-year-old decided to target coach Darren Lehmann, who apparently has been pushing the middle-order batsman to come back from his long standing injury.
Warne and Lehmann were part of Australia’s 1999 World Cup winning squad; on hearing the statement, the latter brushed it off as “absolute rubbish”.
Warne has especially questioned the role of Darren Lehmann as Australian coach
Mark Waugh, who is a current national selector, supported Lehmann and accused Warne of overstepping his limits.
Shane Warne was part of a scornful interview wherein he condemned the Australian support staff while offering the much-needed support to Clarke. He also stated that Clarke was responsible for Australia’s good form in the recent past more than Lehmann.
While speaking to 2GB, Warne had the following to say, “It was Michael Clarke who taught them how to win, you know they had three or four different coaches, Darren Lehmann’s come on and put a bit of icing on the cake, he’s actually complemented Michael Clarke”.
‘Boof’ as Lehmann is popularly known within is cricketing circle, found support in his team as well as with former Australian cricketers. The officials, on the other hand, decided to play down the situation not letting the issue to escalate to unnecessary lengths.
Rumours about rift between Clarke and Lehmann have been doing the rounds since 2014. The latter, in November, decided to speak out and denied of any conflict existing between him and the current Australian national captain.
Lehmann has denied rumours of rift with Clarke
Mark Waugh, in Lehmann’s defence, also said that Warne was never a big fan of having coaches and believed that players themselves could take the team to extreme lengths.
With Australia’s game against Bangladesh being washed out, they are second on Pool A points table with 3 points. Australia will face co-host New Zealand on February 28th.
Australia will face New Zealand on February 28
