Warne's low morale puts place in doubt (3 April 1999)

3 April 1999

Warne's low morale puts place in doubt

Peter Deeley in St John's, Antigua

A long-distance call from this island to the Queensland home of Australian chief selector Trevor Hohns was yesterday set to decide whether the unthinkable would happen: the dropping of Shane Warne.

After 71 Tests and 317 wickets, the man who has been almost universally described as the best leg-spinner of all time suddenly found himself fighting for his place in the final West Indies game, which starts here today.

Australia captain Steve Waugh, who described it as "a very tough decision", was probably relieved that it was ultimately to be taken by Hohns, 8,000 miles away.

Waugh feels that Warne is "low on self-confidence" - not something that the likes of Mike Gatting or Graham Gooch would ever have associated with this particular opponent.

"Shane is bowling tight without looking dangerous," Waugh explained. "His flipper isn't coming out right and he has never had a great wrong 'un. This lack of variation is probably killing him at the moment."

What may save Warne's bacon is the loss of Jason Gillespie for the Test Australia must win if they are to square the series, in which they trail 2-1. His back strain, picked up earlier this week in Barbados, means that Australia will bring in seamer Adam Dale for only his second game.

Earlier indications were that Australia would play a third seamer here and that either Warne or his fellow leg-spinner, Stuart MacGill, would step down.

Now the only alternative replacement is Colin Miller, who bowls both off-spin and seam, but he performed poorly in the game against West Indies A on this island two weeks ago.

Ian Healy has resisted all calls for his omission from the side by declaring himself fit to play despite still carrying a calf muscle strain.

Healy's poor form both with bat and gloves had led some to suggest that this might be the end of the road for the veteran of 114 Tests with Adam Gilchrist, the man earmarked to take over behind the stumps, having joined the party here.

But Healy has persuaded the selectors that he is "up for one more" and it might be inferred that Waugh lacks the steel needed in a captain to ditch his long-time colleagues.

Matthew Elliott, who has had a miserable tour with the bat, has neither the seniority nor the depth of service to warrant similar consideration. He is likely to stand down with Greg Blewett - now recovered from the thumb injury which cost him his place in Barbados - expected to move up to open with Michael Slater.

One argument in favour of excluding Warne is that MacGill could then step out from beneath his senior partner's shadow. Although he has consistently taken more wickets when the pair have bowled in tandem, MacGill - an intense personality - has begun to show signs of uncertainty in his own abilities.

Against that, Warne is a far better batsman - he is averaging mid-20s in the series, higher than many top-order batsmen - and is a valuable slip fielder.

These myriad factors will come into play when Waugh and coach Geoff Marsh talk with Hohns. Such decisions are never easy and it does not help that all the top brass of the Australian Cricket Board are now on this island, breathing down the necks of the selectors on the spot - one of whom is Warne himself as vice-captain.

Waugh concedes that Warne will have a say. "It will obviously be hard to vote yourself out. Shane may come up with a valid reason why he should stay. I wouldn't want to play if I thought I was not doing well and that there was someone who could do better than me."

But the Australia captain does not hide his disappointment at Warne's inability to produce the goods at the crucial moment in the second innings in Barbados.

"I thought the big occasion would bring out the best in him. Instead it brought the best out in Brian Lara."

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)