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Sydney: Shane Warne on Wednesday called on Australia coach Mickey Arthur to be replaced by former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming days after branding the nation’s cricket chiefs “muppets”.
Warne said he was “frustrated on many levels at present”, and praised Fleming as “the best opposition captain we played against” on his website. “I believe he brings a lot to the table, a calmness, an intelligent understanding of the game and a very good cricket brain. He’s a good communicator too as well as a good leader of men.”
The 43-year-old leg-spinner, also wants former Test wicket-keeper Rod Marsh as chairman of selectors. In a post entitled “Where is Australian cricket at? Part 1” on his website, Warne said: “The next 12 months is the biggest 12 months of cricket for the Australian cricket team in a long, long time. “If we do nothing now, we will be where we were 30 years ago. There needs to be urgent action and a new strategy/plan put in place.”
While Fleming was Warne’s coach of choice, he wanted Darren Lehmann to be his assistant. Warne argued that the coach should not be a selector. The recently retired Michael Hussey and Michael Bevan were put forward as potential batting coaches, while Merv Hughes and Bruce Reid were posited as the men to mentor the bowlers. Ian Chappell, meanwhile, would oversee it all as a consultant, on call as a source of advice and philosophy on the game.
“All the above people are cricket people, not rugby, tennis or from any other sporting code,” Warne wrote. “They all understand the game of cricket, they have lived and breathed the game for a long time and most importantly have the best interests of Australian cricket at heart, along with being super passionate and above all, they just love the game.
“Cricket is a simple game; sure it has room and a place for scientific research and current technology, which can help (you) learn about an opponent, but not instead of using your cricket brain — they can work hand in hand. Technology can help in recovery, but so can sleep and a common sense approach to recovery.” (Agencies)
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