Warne's sledging tactics come under fire

Shane Warne has come under fire after a series of sledging excesses in the latest round of the County Championship. Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, said Warne's behaviour was "disappointing" and he had lost respect for him.

"Playing hard on the field is fine by me," Adams told a Sussex newspaper, "but to try to publicly humiliate young players in the opposition is disappointing. 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 felt that there was no need for Warne to have used such tactics. "Because of what he has done in the game, Shane Warne will always be considered a great," he said. "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 game might have ended in a draw, but Warne managed to dismiss Prior in both innings and establish his stranglehold.