Shane Warne intent on writing off his old enemy

Shane Warne may not be able to punch a hole in England’s middle order any more, not now that he has retired from international cricket, but he is still quite capable of tearing into English pretensions.

Hosting the launch of his new book, Shane Warne’s Century, in London, Warne was asked whether he thought Australia were good enough to win the Ashes here next summer. From his outraged expression, you might have imagined that he had just received a personal affront.

“Of course they are,” he retorted. “England have just won a dead rubber, and suddenly everybody is saying that they are going to win the Ashes.

“Yeah, it’s exciting for England, I suppose, to have won a dead rubber. But South Africa had won the series. And South Africa have only got a couple of decent batsmen in their side.

If England keep losing series and winning dead rubbers, Australia will wipe the floor with them. It will be 5-0 again, just like last time.”

Despite appearances, Warne is not as much of a stereotypical Pommie-basher as his old mucker Glenn McGrath. He gives credit where credit is due, as he showed with his gracious response to defeat in 2005. But like most great sportsmen, he is allergic to anyone who starts making grand predictions without the results to back it up.

“The last couple of months have been encouraging for England,” Warne continued, his lip now fully curled. “But I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high: it’s been encouraging rather than 'We’re going to win the Ashes’.

“Kevin Pietersen brings confidence to the captaincy, he’s the best batsman they’ve got, and I think the other players will follow him. If England can keep that momentum up now, win the next series and the next one after that, then I’m sure they will give Australia a real shake and it will be one hell of a contest. Hopefully something to match 2005. Otherwise I think Australia will thrash them, because Australia are a really good side.”

The perception around the globe –and most particularly in England – is that the world champions have come back to the pack a little since the international retirements of McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Warne. Yet it would be a mistake to write them off.

Take 2005: Ricky Ponting was under huge pressure when he returned from England as the first captain since Allan Border to lose the Ashes. He responded by sweeping the board in the so-called Super Series against an underperforming World XI. Since then, Australia’s record is extraordinary: 21 Test wins, three draws, and a single defeat in three years’ non-stop cricket.

“I don’t think Australia are in decline,” Warne said. “I think we’re getting stronger. Go through the batting: it’s Jaques or Katich for No 1, then Hayden, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke. The all-rounder is Shane Watson: international cricket hasn’t seen anything like the best of him yet. Brad Haddin is a very good wicketkeeper. Stuart Clark will never let you down. Brett Lee has just had the best year of his career. Maybe Mitchell Johnson hasn’t quite established himself yet, but he still bowls at over 90mph and gives you the left-arm variation.

“The one thing we need is a spinner to come on the scene, but then that’s true of international cricket in general. People are looking at some of the international sides and saying, 'Where have all the spinners gone?’”

England have a rare advantage in this department right now – an advantage that might have been better exploited if the England and Wales Cricket Board had scheduled a Test at Old Trafford next summer, the ground where Monty Panesar has taken 25 wickets at 17. Instead, the first Ashes Test will be played at Cardiff, an unknown quantity in international terms, but a venue that will probably favour seam.

Whatever the conditions, Warne believes England would be well advised to stick with experience when they pick their Ashes XI. And that means going back to a certain former captain. “I rate Michael Vaughan very highly,” he said. “To me, he is still the best No 3 England have got, because I still have doubts about Ian Bell. England would be a stronger team with Michael Vaughan in it – that’s for sure.”