Murali over-sensitive to criticism: Warne

Shane Warne has reacted to Muttiah Muralitharan's decision to skip the tour of Australia by saying that he is too sensitive to criticism. Warne currently trails Murali by 10 wickets at the top of the wicket-taking charts - Courtney Walsh is still second, two wickets ahead of Warne - and he admitted that he had been relishing the prospect of another head-to-head duel.

"I'd be disappointed if Murali didn't come out, full stop," said Warne, in conversation with The Age. "I like Murali as a bloke, and I know it's been tough what he's gone through. I mean, we all go through tough times," said Warne, who has had more than his fair share of travails off the field.

Murali's decision was said to be prompted by the intense heckling he was subjected to the last time Sri Lanka toured Australia. "I think it's disappointing that he was saying because he gets heckled from the crowd and a few cheap shots from people," said Warne. "When I got to Sri Lanka, if I worried about what everyone said, I don't think I'd tour the country either, any country for that matter, if I took to heart what people said in the crowd and things like that."

According to Warne, jibes from the crowd came with the territory. "If you tour the opposition country, you expect they're on their side, so I think he's being a little bit over-sensitive about whoever's calling him what, or the crowd, or some bloke's had too many beers and gets into him," he said. "He's old enough and been through it enough. I'm pretty strong on it, mate. Everyone cops it, not just me."

Murali's decision to withdraw came soon after John Howard, Australia's prime minister, referred to him as a chucker, prompting a furious response from Sri Lanka. And even as Murali basked in the glow of a ticker-tape welcome after getting home from Zimbabwe, Warne insisted that anyone who couldn't cope with criticism shouldn't be playing cricket.

"That's pretty strong words and that's how I do feel - I think he's being a little bit over-sensitive about the whole thing," said Warne. "As far as he's concerned the ICC has cleared him, he's done his tests, he's playing the best he can. He knows the rules. You've just got to get on with it I would say, just get on with it and play. I like Murali, I spend a lot of time with him and I'm good friends with him. 'Just get on with it and play', that's what I would say to him."