The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Don’t crib, learn to play on turners: Shane Warne

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Don’t crib, learn to play on turners: Shane Warne

It’s a good challenge for teams to prove themselves

— Photo: PTI

PLAINSPEAK: Shane Warne, snapped with his Rajasthan Royals teammate Mohd. Kaif, feels visiting teams should endeavour to play on spinning tracks in India rather than finding excuses for not performing well.

Jaipur: Instead of cribbing about the turning tracks in India visiting teams should learn to play on them as there is nothing wrong in the host’s insistence on having wickets that work to its advantage, feels Australian spin legend Shane Warne.

Warne, who is here to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Rajasthan Royals team, said visiting teams should come prepared for turners.

“I see nothing wrong in this. Every team visiting India expects such kind of wickets. Every team tries to take advantage of the home conditions and their strengths. I would love to have a spinning track right here if it suits Rajasthan Royals,” said Warne.

“Don’t the Indians have to play on hard and bouncy wickets in Australia or South Africa? That is the whole fun in cricket. You have to play on different kind of surfaces and have to prove yourself on them. It is a great challenge,” he added.

Impressed

Warne, who will captain the Royals, said he was impressed by the young talent pool that India has.

“I am quite pleased with what I saw. We have a young talented bunch. They are dynamic and skill is there,” he said.

“After being with the youngsters I am feeling young too. Opportunities create wonderful things. I am looking forward to pass on my knowledge to these youngsters. I hope that they learn few tricks,” he added.

Getting back into shape

The tweaker, who bid adieu to his international career after last year’s Ashes series against England, said he was working on his fitness to get back in shape for the IPL.

“I bowl in nets while workout in camps of the state team. I am not in best of condition but while bowling in nets I have been able to remove some of the cobwebs which might have developed while was away from top level cricket,” he said.

“I have been doing strengthening exercises and loosening out. I am anxious to have a go,” he added.

On a lighter note, Warne said apart from IPL, Bollywood was also an enticing option for the Australian cricketers. Aussie pace spearhead Brett Lee has already made some inroads into Bollywood and Warne feels a couple of more are also capable of making a mark.

“There are few others like my fellow Australian Shane Watson who are good enough to excel in films,” he quipped. — PTI

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