Waugh the most selfish cricketer, says Warne

Melbourne, February 9

Legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne has launched an astonishing attack on his former captain Steve Waugh, calling him “the most selfish cricketer that I’ve played with”. Speaking on a TV show, Warne said there were many reasons he didn’t like Waugh, but highlighted one incident — his axing in the final Test against West Indies in 1999 —  as the main reason for contempt for Waugh. 

“There are a lot of reasons I don’t like Steve Waugh, a lot of reasons ... because he’s the most selfish cricketer I’ve played with,” said Warne.

Warne spoke about the incident that happened 17 years ago when he was axed from the final Test against West Indies in 1999, with Australia trailing 1-2.

“One thing that really annoyed me about him was the one Test I got dropped. We had to win the last Test match to win the trophy. At that stage, captain (Waugh), vice-captain (me), coach (Geoff Marsh) used to pick the team,” said the 46-year-old.

After three Tests of the four-match series, Warne had taken just two wickets and despite admitting that Waugh was justified in dropping him, the leg-spinner said he felt he was being made a scapegoat.

“We went to selection. I hadn’t bowled well, we’d lost, Brian Lara batted unreal, but I felt like I was being made the scapegoat.

“Anyway, we get to selection table and I said, ‘Ok, what’s everyone’s thoughts?’Waugh said, ‘You’re not playing’. I went, ‘What? Hang on. What do you think the team should be?’ and Waugh said ‘I’m the captain of this side, and you’re not playing’.

“I was really disappointed.  I’d just had a shoulder operation. I thought the situation where we had to win the Test match would have brought the best out of me too.”

During that Test in Antigua, Colin Miller had replaced Warne and Australia registered a 176-run win to draw the series 2-2. — PTI