Spin bowling great Shane Warne has attacked the “arrogant mindset” of Australian cricket, warning its No. 1 world status will eventually come under threat. In a wide-ranging interview with News Ltd. newspapers today, Warne spoke of a “worrying culture” of arrogance among Australian administrators, ex-coaches and former players. He singled out former coach John Buchanan, saying he was “a goose” who has “verbal diarrhoea.”“The only issue I have got with cricket at the moment is that Australian administrators, ex-players and ex-coaches a la John Buchanan, have got to stop the arrogant mindset that Australia are so much better than everyone else,” Warne said.“Yes, Australia are the No 1 country in the world at present, but all this bull about our players going to other countries and playing . what a lot of crap,” he said.Warne said Australia would be tested in the next few years. “Other countries will catch up and they will unearth someone, that’s just the cycle, as long as the foundations in these countries are strong,” he said.“I disagree with John Buchanan all the time. I don’t think he has made one good point in a long time, actually. Everything that I have read that he says, he is living in pixieland. It just shows what we players had to put up with in John Buchanan. We had to listen to his verbal diarrhoea all the time. He is just a goose and has no idea and lacks common sense..,” Warne said.Warne spoke highly of several members of the Indian cricket team currently touring Australia. He said master batsman Sachin Tendulkar should not to be written off because he was “the best batsman I have played either with or against.”He described Indian leg-spinner and captain Anil Kumble as “one of the nicest blokes you will ever meet” but “also one of the most competitive players going around.” Warne retired from Test cricket at the end of the 2006-07 season.I don’t think he (Buchanan) has made one good point in a long time. Everything that. he says, he is living in pixieland. It just shows what we players had to put up with. We had to listen to his verbal diarrhoea all the time. He is just a goose and has no idea and lacks common sense.Shane Warne
