Warne criticises Aussies lack of flair
Warne wants the Aussie bowlers to show more aggression
Also In The News
|
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough refused to be drawn on rumours linking him to the vacant managerial posts at Derby County and Nottingham Forest. |  |
Wednesday, 31, Dec 2008 06:21
Australian bowling legend Shane Warne has criticised the current side's lack of "imagination and flair" following their series defeat to South Africa.
The Proteas came back from 184-7 in the fist innings to win the second Test in Melbourne and inflict Australia's first series defeat at home for 16 years.
The South African tail has consistently made runs during the first two Tests of the series, including 275 runs for the final three wickets in the first innings at the MCG, and Warne says the Aussie bowlers need to be more aggressive when bowling at the tail.
Warne wrote in the Melbourne Herald Sun: "After Australia's two losses to South Africa, I reckon our bowlers need to have more imagination and flair.
"They especially need this when tackling the tail and when the wickets are flat."
Since the retirement of himself and Glenn McGrath, the spin legend says he is concerned about the current crop of bowlers' ability to take 20 wickets in a match.
He added: "I have concerns about Australia's ability to take 20 wickets.
"The bowlers can't just bowl line and length all day and hope batsmen lose patience, chase one and nick it to the wicketkeeper or slip.
"They need to be able to bowl a hostile spell, as Merv Hughes and Glenn McGrath did."
Warne says that the system used to produce players for the national team needs to be examined to make sure it proving players with the best education for Test cricket.
The 39-year-old warned that the rest of the sides in the world were making significant progress and posed genuine threats to the Aussies for the position of the world's best side.
With the Ashes tour looming next year Warne said the team would have to recover quickly but felt it was possible.
He cited the way the team responded to losing the Ashes in 2005 before winning them back with a series whitewash in 2007 as an example of how the current side needs to react to the defeat to South Africa.
Warne said: "Australia needs to get some momentum back. Sometimes it takes a series loss to work out what is the best style of play for the team, and issues within the group can be addressed.
"Think back to when England won the Ashes in 2005. After that, Australia went on the rampage and beat everyone in its path. There is no reason this can't happen again."
Australia will hope to bounce back immediately during the final Test against South Africa which starts on January 2nd in Sydney.