A clear window for IPL will end sledging: Warne
Shane Warne gestures to the crowd as he leaves the field after his last international match - the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on May 20, 2011. (AFP Photo)
MUMBAI: Retired Australian spin legend Shane Warne once again batted for a window for the IPL in the ICC calendar, saying the tournament helps breaks down barriers in world cricket which lessens instances of sledging in international matches.
"I look at the IPL with fun and with the wish that the ICC, would say no international cricket for six weeks and every cricketer is available to play. That will help in breaking down barriers in world cricket about sledging and all those sorts of things and everyone is friends," said Warne who played his last competitive game last night, leading his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals to a 10-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.
Warne, who called it quits to focus on his business interests, poker tournaments and be with his three children and girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley, does not want to see too many changes in the team structures.
"There are a lot of good things about the IPL, hope that continues. As long as the nucleus of the team is the same, the fans will have to get used to the players, IPL is very good for Indian cricket and world cricket," he declared.
The comments of the spin king were in sharp contrast to the recent comments of former England captain Tony Greig who questioned the wisdom behind top cricketers Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo preferring IPL over commitment to the West Indian team which is engaged in an international series at home against Pakistan.
Warne said he is looking out for a short stint as a consultant with the Royals or any other franchise next season.
"Royals will be very good next year if the international boys fire with guys like (Ajinkya) Rahane, (Ashok) Meneria (there). Rahul (Dravid) plays well at the top. Young Ankit Chavan (left arm spinner) bowled beautifully tonight, probably had Sachin out twice. I think they will go all the way next year," he said confidently.
"At the end of the day I think IPL is about promoting young cricketers in India. We have done probably better than any other team in the competition with that. To win the second-most games after Chennai with the teams we had for four years was an outstanding effort from all our guys in the squad," Warne said.
"I wouldn't be here as a coach for the entire tournament. No point being here for seven weeks and don't play. But I can see myself in a consultancy sort of a role...may be ten days pre tournament or a week in the middle or a week in the end. That might be with the Rajasthan Royals.
"In the next 12 months I might not be associated (with Royals), it may be somebody else. Royals will be my first priority. If I can't come to an agreement with them I will look elsewhere and see whatever team (as consultant) for a week or so. If I don't, I will play another poker tournament and watch on the telly," he said about his future plans.
Warne suggested the introduction of Super Rounds next year in which one extra international player, the fifth, can be fielded by each of the 10 franchises.
"I actually thought there should be two super rounds with each team playing five internationals...just two rounds in the middle of the tournament," the leg spin ace said.
"Some teams might not have played well and an extra international may help to get them back up. If people like it then the next year or later have three super rounds - one after every four games sort of," he explained further.
Looking back on their campaign this year, he rued that the team fell off track in a few games but insisted when they batted the way they did yesterday, with Shane Watson going hammer at tongs at Lasith Malinga and company, they were the best team in the competition.
"We played extremely well. We showed when we do fire we probably are the best team in the competition. Unfortunately our batsmen just did not fire through the competition. If Watson had one or two innings like that, Ross Taylor had one or two more innings, we probably would have been first or second. We won six games and a wash-out and if we had won two more games we would have been right at the top," he said.
"I'm really proud of the way we have conducted ourselves on and off the field, no silly sledgings...and we did not embarrass ourselves, just got out and played," he added.
He said his compatriot Watson was probably the best batsman currently on the planet when he plays the way he did.
"You can argue if he's not the best batsman in the world at the moment, who is? I think he is in the top couple of batsmen in the world when he's on song. He apologised to me three or four times tonight sorry he could not do it in the last few games. I said 'mate it happens. Even Don Bradman couldn't do it'.
Warne recalled that when the IPL was conceptualised in 2008 no one knew how it will turn out and complimented former chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi for the way the tournament has evolved.
"In 2008 No one knew what to expect in the IPL. What's going to happen...auctions, franchises, massive money for players for six weeks' work...what's going on?
"That's what lured me out of retirement as I thought it looks pretty cool to be involved. I think the way Lalit Modi did it, his brain, his baby. The rest of it was all about the players. I thought he did a great job
"I look back (with fondness) at 2008. We played some phenomenal cricket out there When something is new and fresh and you don't know what's there you try to be a step ahead of the opposition. We were the first to open the bowling with spin. We came out with new ideas which have been copied by others, which is nice. It's a back-handed compliment.
Asked about his spat with Rajasthan Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Dixit, Warne hoped the IPL authorities would act against his comments on a website after both the warring parties were told at the hearing by the T20 authorities not to air their views on the issue in public.
"We were told we should not make comments. I think he has made comments in the last few days, hopefully he might get into trouble for going against what the orders were. The bottom line is we both said exactly the same things, called each other exactly the same names... to me it's a bit immature from both sides and we both should have gone at it private. For me to cop a fine and for him to get away scot-free and still be up to talk and nothing is happening to him (is not fair)," he remarked.
Warne was fined a hefty $50,000 by the two man IPL panel which conducted the hearing in Mumbai.
"I look at the IPL with fun and with the wish that the ICC, would say no international cricket for six weeks and every cricketer is available to play. That will help in breaking down barriers in world cricket about sledging and all those sorts of things and everyone is friends," said Warne who played his last competitive game last night, leading his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals to a 10-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.
Warne, who called it quits to focus on his business interests, poker tournaments and be with his three children and girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley, does not want to see too many changes in the team structures.
"There are a lot of good things about the IPL, hope that continues. As long as the nucleus of the team is the same, the fans will have to get used to the players, IPL is very good for Indian cricket and world cricket," he declared.
The comments of the spin king were in sharp contrast to the recent comments of former England captain Tony Greig who questioned the wisdom behind top cricketers Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo preferring IPL over commitment to the West Indian team which is engaged in an international series at home against Pakistan.
Warne said he is looking out for a short stint as a consultant with the Royals or any other franchise next season.
"Royals will be very good next year if the international boys fire with guys like (Ajinkya) Rahane, (Ashok) Meneria (there). Rahul (Dravid) plays well at the top. Young Ankit Chavan (left arm spinner) bowled beautifully tonight, probably had Sachin out twice. I think they will go all the way next year," he said confidently.
"At the end of the day I think IPL is about promoting young cricketers in India. We have done probably better than any other team in the competition with that. To win the second-most games after Chennai with the teams we had for four years was an outstanding effort from all our guys in the squad," Warne said.
"I wouldn't be here as a coach for the entire tournament. No point being here for seven weeks and don't play. But I can see myself in a consultancy sort of a role...may be ten days pre tournament or a week in the middle or a week in the end. That might be with the Rajasthan Royals.
"In the next 12 months I might not be associated (with Royals), it may be somebody else. Royals will be my first priority. If I can't come to an agreement with them I will look elsewhere and see whatever team (as consultant) for a week or so. If I don't, I will play another poker tournament and watch on the telly," he said about his future plans.
Warne suggested the introduction of Super Rounds next year in which one extra international player, the fifth, can be fielded by each of the 10 franchises.
"I actually thought there should be two super rounds with each team playing five internationals...just two rounds in the middle of the tournament," the leg spin ace said.
"Some teams might not have played well and an extra international may help to get them back up. If people like it then the next year or later have three super rounds - one after every four games sort of," he explained further.
Looking back on their campaign this year, he rued that the team fell off track in a few games but insisted when they batted the way they did yesterday, with Shane Watson going hammer at tongs at Lasith Malinga and company, they were the best team in the competition.
"We played extremely well. We showed when we do fire we probably are the best team in the competition. Unfortunately our batsmen just did not fire through the competition. If Watson had one or two innings like that, Ross Taylor had one or two more innings, we probably would have been first or second. We won six games and a wash-out and if we had won two more games we would have been right at the top," he said.
"I'm really proud of the way we have conducted ourselves on and off the field, no silly sledgings...and we did not embarrass ourselves, just got out and played," he added.
He said his compatriot Watson was probably the best batsman currently on the planet when he plays the way he did.
"You can argue if he's not the best batsman in the world at the moment, who is? I think he is in the top couple of batsmen in the world when he's on song. He apologised to me three or four times tonight sorry he could not do it in the last few games. I said 'mate it happens. Even Don Bradman couldn't do it'.
Warne recalled that when the IPL was conceptualised in 2008 no one knew how it will turn out and complimented former chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi for the way the tournament has evolved.
"In 2008 No one knew what to expect in the IPL. What's going to happen...auctions, franchises, massive money for players for six weeks' work...what's going on?
"That's what lured me out of retirement as I thought it looks pretty cool to be involved. I think the way Lalit Modi did it, his brain, his baby. The rest of it was all about the players. I thought he did a great job
"I look back (with fondness) at 2008. We played some phenomenal cricket out there When something is new and fresh and you don't know what's there you try to be a step ahead of the opposition. We were the first to open the bowling with spin. We came out with new ideas which have been copied by others, which is nice. It's a back-handed compliment.
Asked about his spat with Rajasthan Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Dixit, Warne hoped the IPL authorities would act against his comments on a website after both the warring parties were told at the hearing by the T20 authorities not to air their views on the issue in public.
"We were told we should not make comments. I think he has made comments in the last few days, hopefully he might get into trouble for going against what the orders were. The bottom line is we both said exactly the same things, called each other exactly the same names... to me it's a bit immature from both sides and we both should have gone at it private. For me to cop a fine and for him to get away scot-free and still be up to talk and nothing is happening to him (is not fair)," he remarked.
Warne was fined a hefty $50,000 by the two man IPL panel which conducted the hearing in Mumbai.
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