Warne is growing increasingly worried about Australia’s decreasing spin stocks
Former Australia spin king Shane Warne has called on Cricket Australia to make pitches during domestic games have more in them for spin bowlers, who took the brunt of the punishment in the national team’s recent four-Test series against India.
Warne stated the conditions in Australia have to start becoming more spin-friendly or more kids will abandon the art of spin for pace since they learn that fast bowling is the only way they will be able to take wickets.
“I think the problem lies in what we expect from our young spin bowlers and the way they are handled at domestic level by their captains and coaches,” Warne was quoted by The Age as saying.
Warne also issued some advice to the spinners in the national team, stating that they should constantly be thinking about the weaknesses of a batsman and how to use that weakness against him and turn it into a wicket.
“The attitude should always be about taking wickets and not about economy rates: 4/100 off 25 overs is a good result and better than 2/60 off 25 overs,” Warne said. “My guidelines on what to look for in a young spinner is pretty simple; someone who can spin the ball. Any fast bowler that can swing or make the ball move has a chance to take wickets; if they bowl straight they will struggle.”
With almost all of the pitches in Australia being known as a pace bowler’s paradise, Warne is concerned that a whole generation of youths will stick to quick bowling as they believe that it will be the only way for them to succeed.
“They also have to play under a captain who is prepared to back the spinner and play them in all 10 Shield games not just in Adelaide or Sydney where the ball spins,” Warne added. “This way, the spinner gets experience in all the different conditions and the good spinners will adapt and find a way to be successful.
“Easy to say, I know, but I believe we should identify our top four spinners and put them on a decent contract and have them play nothing but first-class cricket for twelve months and then take a view and reassess.”