Taylor sounds warning

PERTH, Feb 16: Leg-spinning wizard Shane Warne will be a crucial component in Australia's armoury in the approaching three-Test series in In...

PERTH, Feb 16: Leg-spinning wizard Shane Warne will be a crucial component in Australia’s armoury in the approaching three-Test series in India, Australian captain Mark Taylor said here today.

“He will give us a dimension we did not have 16 months ago when we lost the one-off Test in Delhi,” said Taylor.

Warne has 303 wickets at an average of 23.81 from 64 Tests.

After snapping up 39 Test victims in six games over the Australian summer, he was rested from the brief just-completed tour of New Zealand for a series of One-day games, but will be among the Australian team leaving for India on Friday.

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“The Indian tour will be a brand new challenge for the Australian side,” added Taylor.“I think there will be good wickets and it will be good contest.”

Australia accepted as the world’s unofficial test champions, have beaten New Zealand 2-0 and South Africa 1-0 in Test series at home this summer to complete nine successive series wins.

The India Test did not constitute a series because of its one-offnature.But Taylor is keen to maintain his side’s momentum and make amends for the India loss and the 1-0 defeat in Pakistan in 1994-95 on his first tour as captain.