Warne turns on New Zealand's pitches

Shane Warne believes Australia's one-day match against New Zealand at Hamilton in March should be moved after he played on the "terrible" pitch there for the FICA World XI yesterday. Warne, who captained the guest side as they were dismissed for 81, said New Zealand's pitches in general were not up to the required limited-overs standard.

"You couldn't play a one-day international out there," he said after his side's four-wicket loss to New Zealand. "I think the authorities are probably going to have to look and see if the [Australia] game can be moved already." Warne also criticised the surface at Christchurch, and said the series against Australia would be "hard work" for New Zealand on pitches providing too much assistance for the bowlers.

Martin Snedden, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, admitted that the Hamilton pitch was "not ideal", but did not confirm if the venue's international status was in jeopardy. "I don't think the players were in danger," Snedden said. "Until you talk to the people involved in the game ... you can have thoughts, but I'd like to test them a bit on their thinking."