Jaymin
26 Apr 2005, 12:07
SHANE Warne has been given a serve by Sussex counterpart Chris Adams for sledging beyond belief during the last round of county championship cricket games.
Warne ... or should that be the 'Hampshire Heckler'.
Adams, captain of Sussex, which played against the Australian's Hampshire side, said he lost all respect for the Test record wicket taker when he tried to "publicly humiliate" some of the young Sussex batsmen.
"Playing hard on the field is fine by me but to try to publicly humiliate young players in the opposition is disappointing," Adams told a local Sussex newspaper yesterday.
"Matt Prior came in for quite a lot of verbal abuse. I've told Matt that it is because he is seen as a threat. It's a back-handed compliment in a way."
Adams hinted that there was no need for Warne to use the sledging tactics that have put Australia in trouble with opposition teams and officials alike in the past.
"Because of what he has done in the game, Shane Warne will always be considered a great," Adams continued.
"Off the field he was outstanding and the first person to congratulate us and say what a great game it was, but I have lost a lot of respect for him because of the way he behaved in this match."
The match ended in a draw, but Warne dismissed Prior in both innings. He also caught and bowled Adams in the first innings before belting a 26-ball 34 of his own with the bat.
With just 86 days left until the First Test of the Ashes series against England, the story will further fuel an entertaining verbal lead-up to the series.
Ricky Ponting's bat was the centre of attention last week, and former Ashes wicket-taking machine Merv Hughes had a crack at the England psyche on Sunday, claiming the Poms would not be up to the mental challenge when it comes to playing Australia
Warne ... or should that be the 'Hampshire Heckler'.
Adams, captain of Sussex, which played against the Australian's Hampshire side, said he lost all respect for the Test record wicket taker when he tried to "publicly humiliate" some of the young Sussex batsmen.
"Playing hard on the field is fine by me but to try to publicly humiliate young players in the opposition is disappointing," Adams told a local Sussex newspaper yesterday.
"Matt Prior came in for quite a lot of verbal abuse. I've told Matt that it is because he is seen as a threat. It's a back-handed compliment in a way."
Adams hinted that there was no need for Warne to use the sledging tactics that have put Australia in trouble with opposition teams and officials alike in the past.
"Because of what he has done in the game, Shane Warne will always be considered a great," Adams continued.
"Off the field he was outstanding and the first person to congratulate us and say what a great game it was, but I have lost a lot of respect for him because of the way he behaved in this match."
The match ended in a draw, but Warne dismissed Prior in both innings. He also caught and bowled Adams in the first innings before belting a 26-ball 34 of his own with the bat.
With just 86 days left until the First Test of the Ashes series against England, the story will further fuel an entertaining verbal lead-up to the series.
Ricky Ponting's bat was the centre of attention last week, and former Ashes wicket-taking machine Merv Hughes had a crack at the England psyche on Sunday, claiming the Poms would not be up to the mental challenge when it comes to playing Australia