Warne blasts Buchanan for criticising Michael Clarke

Sydney, Aug 13 (CRICKENMORE) -  Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne on Thursday hit out at former Australia cricket coach John Buchanan for his criticism of outgoing captain Michael Clarke's leadership skills.

Buchanan had voiced his unhappiness at Australia's performance after the team lost the fourth Ashes Test in England within three days to trail the series 1-3. The 62-year-old had alleged that Clarke, who will retire after the series, had eroded the team culture during his tenure as skipper.

But Warne asserted that Buchanan was unqualified to speak on the matter since he lacks on-field experience and has no idea what the players go through.

"It’s an absolute joke, really. Guys like John Buchanan trying to do cheap shots and say that he's let down the culture of the baggy green. Give us a break, mate. Are you for real?" Warne was quoted as saying by Channel Nine.

"This bloke had no idea about the game of cricket. He never played the game, doesn't know what the players go through. And suddenly he's saying he wrecked the culture of the baggy green," Warne, who claimed 708 wickets in 145 Tests before retiring in January 2007, added.

"I mean that is just a disgraceful comment from someone who had no idea about the game of cricket. Come on you absolute tall so and so."

Warne went on to defend Clarke's captaincy skills, saying that the Australian team prospered during his tenure. 

"He loves playing cricket for Australia. Look at the players that have come underneath Clarke's captaincy -- Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, David Warner -- class players all under his leadership," Warne, who bagged 293 wickets in One-Day International (ODI) cricket, said.

"Have a look at what the Australian team has done ... so we lost a couple of Test matches. Stop trying to blame everything else on him."

(IANS)