Kim Hughes lambasts Warne
by Cricketarchive Staff Reporter
DateLine: 10th October 2006
Former Australia captain Kim Hughes has taken Shane Warne to task for
the leg-spinner's criticism of Australia's coach, John Buchanan.
Hughes, who captained his country 28 times, has said the spinner is
undermining Australia's bid to regain the Ashes.
Warne found fault with Buchanan's recent boot camp in the Queensland
bush and he has also continued to stake a claim to the captaincy.
"I think he's shown a complete disregard for the position that Buchanan
has held and his attitude to the camp was very poor for a senior
player," Hughes told the Daily Mail. "He'd be living in a fool's world
if he thought he should ever be captain of Australia, because of the
way he has behaved. He would have been an embarrassment if he had
captained our country. From an English point of view, he has given them
a real free kick for this Ashes series. If Australia loses the first
Test then there's going to be questions about whether Buchanan has the
full support of the team. I think the senior players need to sit him
down and say: 'Warney, we're a team here; if you've got your thoughts
then keep them to yourself because you're not making things any
easier'.
Hughes also believes the leggie should keep his friendship with
Hampshire teammate and England middle order batsman Kevin Pietersen
under check. He claimed their bond hindered Australia's cause when they
lost last summer's series 2-1.
"Warney's relationship with Pietersen didn't do Australia any favours,"
Hughes said. "They were too matey. It made Pietersen feel comfortable
and I think he's the sort of player you need to make feel like he's not
wanted. I think Warney's got to be told: 'Look, by all means have a
beer with him at the end of the series, but once you step out there it
all changes'."
