Warne 'tried to humiliate Sussex'

[Zainub]

Sussex cricket captain Chris Adams says he has lost respect for Shane Warne, who he accuses of trying to humiliate his players in a match at Hove.The match ended in thrilling style as Hampshire ended on 267-8 chasing 285 to win. Umpire Ian Gould said the game was played with Test match intensity at times but Adams believes Warne went too far with the verbals. Here's what he said.

Originally Posted by Adams

I've played for 18 years with some of the greatest players in the world - none of them felt the need to disrespect people. Playing hard on the field is fine by me 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. Because of what he has done in the game Shane Warne will always be considered a great. 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. (More on the story here)

Hmmm, interesting, very interesting.

[Nick]

Whilst admiring Shane Warne as a brilliant bowler, I have never had a lot of time for all his baggage. Nevertheless, Adams really needs to toughen himself up here. His comments show extraordinary naivety, and are perhaps indicative as to why he never cut the mustard at Test level.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I think you're spot on there Nick. If we are going to preper players like prior for example, for test cricket, matches need to be played with test macth intensity, not some sunday afternoon club knock about. Dont know what prior did in that match but if he performed well he should take something from it, and quietly ask his skipper to keep his gob shut. Now, because os admas ill-conceived rantings, prior (should he play for england this summer) will get tonnes of stick. the only bright spot is that now he might be able to dish it back.

[Teatime FatCat]

Unfortunately, this is one of those on-field incidents that we'll probably never get to the bottom of. I'm all for Warne bringing a bit of toughness to the county game, and testing a few youngsters with comments about their ability or something that they have done in the game (dropped catches, falling over etc) - that's fair game and he should expect that back too (being fat, smoking etc). But for me, that's where it stops. Comments about your mother, kids, parentage, stuff from outside the game etc are out of order, unnecessary and should be stamped on.

However, the umpire deemed the behaviour and the verbals nothing worth commenting about so I'd assume that it wasn't that bad and Chris Adams is being a bit precious and should have kept his mouth shut.

[Milo]

Warne specifically worked Prior over in the game. He got him cheaply in both innings. Australia clearly singled Prior out as a potential danger in the Ashes and Warne has single handedly lessened his potential impact in the series as easy as look at you.

Adams needs to shut up...I remember him when he was a school boy for Repton. Even at that level, he had absolutely no problem in arrogantly destroying little boys by continuously smashing their dolly long hops over the pavilion into the tennis courts.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Repton ? Mr Admas played for my former school (he was known as gus because he had long arms), but wasnt aware he played for anyone else.

[Maranello]

TTFC I am sure it was routine cricket-related banter and sledging, as the umpires did not intervene or report anything. I am sure if Warne had made any references to a person's parentage or family, Adams would probably have thrown all his toys out of the dressing room and gone crying to the local Constabulary. The fact that Adams' post match comments made no reference to any such abuse, and did not even allude to Warne over-stepping the line, indicate that he is just being a spoilt pansy. I could be wrong, but that is my deduction based on the facts available.

Of course, comments which even so much as allude to someone's family or parentage are completely out of order, and should be dealt with severely, with the perpetrators getting bans. However, how often do such instances happen? I can recall the McGrath / Sarwan incident, but not many others. And maybe that incident received such coverage because it was so unusual and unprecedented.

Adams himself admits here that Warne was a complete sportsman off the field. What more does he want? That he bowls juicy half-trackers to Prior as the latter is barely out of his diapers? We expect international cricketers to show some passion, some fight, some determination when in the field, and to be gentlemanly off it. I do not see how Warne has breached this in any way.

[Teatime FatCat]

I agree. If it was all pretty harmless stuff then Adams has merely added to the 'wingeing pom' image that so many of us don't subscribe to (just in case you are listening Acker, Beny, Seamer, Seadragon et al!).

[Teatime FatCat]

[quote=Maranello However, how often do such instances happen? I can recall the McGrath / Sarwan incident, but not many others. And maybe that incident received such coverage because it was so unusual and unprecedented.[/QUOTE]


And in any case, I seem to remember that that incident was explained by McGrath mis-hearing Sarwan in the first place. Although to be fair, McGrath has never been short of a word himself!

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Teatime

Unfortunately, this is one of those on-field incidents that we'll probably never get to the bottom of.

Is it just me or did we have some Hampshire and/or Sussex fans here, may be someone who went to the game can tell us more about what happened.