Warne brands Australia cricket chiefs 'muppets'

SYDNEY (AFP) –

Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley watch Roger Federer in action at the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 19, 2013. Warne has branded Cricket Australia “muppets” and called its policy of rotating players “absolute rubbish” following Australia’s T20 series defeat by Sri Lanka.

Shane Warne has branded Cricket Australia “muppets” and called its policy of rotating players “absolute rubbish” following Australia’s T20 series defeat by Sri Lanka.

The outspoken Warne vented his anger on Twitter in his latest run-in with the CA, which has attracted stinging criticism from other greats of the game for rotating players in a bid to reduce injuries.

The spin-bowling maestro appeared to single out ex-Wallaby rugby star Pat Howard, CA’s high-performance chief, who oversees the controversial rotation policy.

Warne, 43, a friend of Test and one-day captain Michael Clarke, complained that fans were being deprived of seeing the world’s leading batsman in action.

“I think CA really need to look at the people who are making decisions on all facets of cricket in Australia, we r seriously becoming a joke!” Warne said.

“Absolute rubbish re selections, rotations, resting & farcical decisions on matches, joke.. Dudding (cheating) the public & to(o) many excuses.. Wake up CA.

“Can CA please put current cricket people in charge to run the game, select teams, not ex rugby or any other sports people plse, seriously.

“We have the best batsmen / captain in the world in @MClarke23 (Michael Clarke) – He needs current cricket people to help him out not muppets.”

Retired players have queued up over the Australian summer to attack the repeated rotation of players. Former skipper Ian Chappell charged CA with creating “more confusion than an algebra test”.

Sri Lanka won the first T20 match by five wickets in Sydney on Saturday, and won again at the MCG late Monday off the last ball of the match under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Australia drew the one-day series with Sri Lanka 2-2, resting Clarke for the first two games, after sweeping the Tests 3-0.

Warne was last week fined Aus$5,000 (US$5,250) for a code of behaviour breach in the domestic Big Bash League.

And he apologised earlier this month after a foul-mouthed rant against West Indian all-rounder Marlon Samuels that earned him a ban and a Aus$4,500 fine.

Warne claimed 708 Test wickets in a celebrated career that also courted controversy, including a fine for taking money from a bookmaker. He was sent home from the 2003 World Cup for taking a banned diuretic.