AUSTRALIA CRICKET NEWS

Don't think Paine is a long-term option: Warne

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Warne felt wicketkeepers shouldn't be burdened by the additional responsibility of captaincy. © Getty

Shane Warne, the former Australian legspinner, reckons that wicketkeepers should not be burdened by captaincy and current Australia skipper Tim Paine is not cut out as a long-term leader. Warne made this claim after becoming the latest signing for Fox Sports, who took over the cricket coverage rights in Australia from Channel Nine in April.

"I'd say it to Gilly face to face, I don't think keepers make good captains," Warne said of his fellow Fox Sports commentator Adam Gilchrist. "I think they make good deputies and are fantastic vice-captains to bounce off to set the standard of fielding.

"I don't think Paine is a long-term option - even though he's done a great job in the short time he's been there - but right now we just need to take stock. We have Justin Langer doing all forms, which is great. Eventually, I think that will branch out to a red ball and white ball coach, and we may have different captains in different forms of cricket. At the moment it's about trusting the Australian cricket team again."

Warne also opined that there is nothing wrong with the Australian team culture at the moment, but the players complain a lot and that newly appointed coach Justin Langer will be able to change that. He also quashed murmurs that Australia should play like New Zealand - in the spirit of the game - and believes that they must find a way between the two cricketing cultures.

"I'm not sure there were team culture problems but I have noticed there is a lot of whingeing coming out of the Australian camp in recent times, about the opposition and things like that," Warne pointed out. "I think that's un-Australian, I have never really heard any Australian sides do that.

"But I think it's a great opportunity for everyone in world cricket to draw a line in the sand and say 'how do we want to play the game?' 'What do we stand for?' 'What's the style of play we want?' I don't think we want to play like the Kiwis, which I heard someone say. I mean, c'mon. The Kiwis, no thank you.

"But we probably want something in between the Kiwis and Australia at the moment. I want us to play hard but fair, tough, uncompromising cricket, but shake hands and play in the spirit of the game and show good sportsmanship."

Warne felt punishment handed out to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for ball tampering but reckoned that the troika will fight their way back to the Langer coached Australian squad. "I know what Justin [Langer] is like as a person, he's a hard worker, he's disciplined, he instils toughness in guys, he'll have great values with the group.

"As a figurehead, he's a good appointment, and it has come at the right time. Hopefully, he'll help the team make us all proud of Australian cricket team again. That's what we want."

© Cricbuzz

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