Published: Jul 16, 2013, 09:39 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 16, 2013, 09:39 PM (IST)
Shane Warne (above) said that sacked Australian coach Mickey Arthur’s recent comments sounded like ‘sour grapes’ © Getty Images
London: Jul 16, 2013
Reacting to sacked Australian coach Mickey Arthur‘s explosive claims, legendary spinner Shane Warne said on Tuesday that the South African’s comments sounded like “sour grapes” and that he should be “grateful” for being given a chance to coach the Aussies.
“It sounds like sour grapes to me and it’s pretty disappointing,” Warne said.
“He should have been grateful for the opportunity to coach the Australian team,” the leg-spinning great added.
Arthur has reportedly claimed that skipper Michael Clarke had described teammate Shane Watson as a “cancer” on the national cricket team. He also alleged that he was a victim of racial discrimination during his time with the Australian team.
Warne though credited Cricket Australia (CA) for sacking Arthur, adding on a lighter note that the South African should do some “homework” of his own.
“I’m one of Cricket Australia’s harshest critics at times but I think they’ve been very good after the Champions Trophy,” Warne told Sky Sports News.
“You’ve got to give a tick to the selectors for picking the squad they have. I think you have to give them big ticks for being proactive with (coach) Darren Lehmann. He’s a fantastic leader and I think that’s showing already; even though they’ve lost they’ve showed a better spirit in the team.
“So Mickey Arthur should maybe go back to ‘Homework Gate’. Maybe he should be writing some lines and some paperwork and send them into Cricket Australia.”
Arthur, who was shown the door days before the Ashes series and two years before his contract was due to expire, has reportedly sought payments and compensation amounting to AUD 4 million or his job back from CA till contract expires in 2015.
