London: Legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne today took a dig at some of the Indian players for lack of commitment towards Test cricket and advised the BCCI to identify its priorities.
“At times the India players have not shown it means the world to play Test cricket. Certain individuals have taken the easy option to miss a Test match when they are not 100 per cent. They have just picked and chosen when to play for their country, which has upset balance and spirit of the team. Those players know who they are,” Warne said.
“The IPL and one-day cricket has a role to play but, if India lead the charge to make Test cricket the priority for all players, that will help everyone around the world.
“The IPL is a wonderful tournament and there should be a four-week window around April-May when everyone is available to play in it. But if India committed to Test cricket a lot more, other boards would be happy to let their players appear in the IPL. It is about give and take,” he added a day after India suffered a 0-4 whitewash at the hands of England, their worst series in the Old Blighty since 1959.
Warne said when Australia were at their best they could have picked two or three teams, but India, who came into the high-profile series as the numero uno side in the longer format, struggled to pick one.
“India have had trouble with picking one side for this series. After this humiliating whitewash they need to go away and identify their priorities. The BCCI has a responsibility to international cricket to make sure everyone wants to play Test cricket,” Warne wrote in the ‘Daily Telegraph’.
According to Warne, Indian players’ shortcomings against the rising ball could be sorted out only if they play in more first-class and Test matches.
“India’s players need to appear more in first-class and Test cricket. Too many of their players have struggled against the short ball in England and their bowlers could not take wickets on flat pitches. They need to look at the age bracket of their middle order. Rahul Dravid has been fantastic.”
The 41-year-old Aussie, however, expressed hopes of a turnaround in the near future. “In one-day and Twenty20 India are formidable because that is what they are used to playing but it is the very reason why priorities have to be redressed. If India sort their bowlers out and get some quicks and spinners they could get back to number one fairly soon.” (PTI)