Celebrity Warne Talks Baked Beans

Shane Warne has no time for his former captain Steve Waugh, saying he’s the most “selfish cricketer I’ve played with”. The former leg spinner has used his time on the television show, I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, to tell the nation he dislikes Waugh for a number of reasons, but there is one in particular.

Warne said the manner in which Waugh, his then captain, told him he had been dropped from the Test team during a tour of the West Indies in 1999 is still vivid in his memory.

“There’s a lot of reasons I don’t like Steve Waugh, a lot of reasons, because he is the most selfish cricketer I’ve played with,” Warne says on Tuesday’s episode of the Network Ten reality show.

“One thing that really annoyed me about him was the one Test I got dropped, in the West Indies, was we had to win the last Test match to win the [Frank Worrell] Trophy.

“At that stage, captain, vice-captain [Warne], coach [Geoff Marsh] used to pick the team. We went to selection. I hadn’t bowled well, we had lost – Brian Lara batted unreal – but I was being the scapegoat, because I didn’t bowl well it was my fault.”

When it came to discussing the ins and outs for the next Test, there was no discussion. Warne said Waugh was blunt.

“We got to the selection table and said ‘What’s everyone’s thoughts?’. Steve Waugh said ‘You’re not playing’. I went ‘What? Hang on. What do you think the team should be? Blah blah blah’, and Steve Waugh said ‘Nuh, I’m the captain of this side ... you’re not playing’.

“I was really disappointed with that after 10 years. I’d just had a shoulder op. I thought the situation ... would’ve brought the best out in me too.”

Warne may have opened up an old wound but he cleared the air about a baked beans story that has been doing the rounds for some 18 years. He told the story how the Australian cricket team received 1,900 cans of baked beans while they were on a tour of India in 1998 after a request from their coach Geoff Marsh.

The only problem was they were specifically addressed to Warne and he said he has had to live with the myth that all the baked beans were for him.

“He rang Cricket Australia, Cricket Australia then rang the company and said, ‘hey look the Australian boys needs some baked beans and spaghetti to put on their toast in the mornings’,” he said. “We got three tonnes each ... addressed ‘Shane Warne, India’... so everyone thought I was desperate for baked beans, so it just stuck for the last 20 years.”

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Darren Lehmanm In Hospital with DVT

Australia head coach Darren Lehmann has been taken to hospital suffering from deep vein thrombosis.

The 45-year-old reported a swollen left calf to medical staff and had a scan before the one-day international against India in Sydney on Saturday.

His condition is described as "stable" and he will be kept in hospital overnight for observation.

A Cricket Australia statement said he will require "a lay-off before he can return to coaching".

The Australia players were told about Lehman's condition after Saturday's six-wicket defeat in the fifth and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Batting coach Michael Di Venuto will take charge of the side for Australia's three-match T20 series against India this month.

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India Avoid Series Whitewash at SCG

India pinched 13 runs off the final over of the fifth and final one-day international against Australia at the SCG on Saturday night to avoid a series whitewash. The six-wicket victory – India’s first of the five-match series – ended Australia’s 18-game one-day international winning streak at home.

Man-of-the-match Manish Pandey was the hero for the visitors in just his fourth ODI, hitting a classy unbeaten 104 from 81 balls to guide India to a victory target of 331 with just two balls to spare. Mitch Marsh, whose 102 not out was vital in another big Australian total, bowled the fateful final over, which produced a dubious wide before MS Dhoni hit a low full-toss for six over long-off.

Dhoni then holed out to David Warner running in from long-off but Pandey stepped up with a glide to the third-man boundary that brought up his maiden ODI century and then he hit the next ball over mid-off for the winning runs. India finished at 331-4 to get home, but Australia won the series 4-1.

India set up the win thanks to a solid contributions from openers Rohit Sharma (99) and Shikhar Dhawan (78) who combined for an opening stand of 123. At one stage they were rollicking along at seven runs an over. But, like he did in the fourth match in Canberra, the re-introduction of John Hastings in the 19th over yielded instant dividends, sucking Dhawan into a big shot to a retreating Shaun Marsh in the deep. Marsh dived back to take a stunning catch at deep point that brought the crowd of just over 33,000 to life.

Hastings then claimed the crucial wicket of Virat Kohli for eight – easily his lowest score of the series. But Dhoni, who was dropped by Nathan Lyon, then combined with Pandey to get their innings back on track, ensuring the run rate didn’t get out of hand before eventually closing out the match.

The hosts had earlier reached 330-7 thanks to centuries from Warner (122) and Mitch Marsh. Warner was forced to dig in after watching four teammates – Aaron Finch (6), Steve Smith (28), George Bailey (6) and Shaun Marsh (7) – all trudge back to the pavilion before the 22nd over.

But the Test opener, together with Mitch Marsh, quickly set about rebuilding the Australian innings with a 118-run partnership before warner holed out off Ishant Sharma’s bowling in the 39th over. Warner finished with nine fours and three sixes in 113 balls – surpassing Greg Chappell in Australia’s top-20 one-day scorers in the process – to register his fifth ODI ton.

Marsh then put the foot down to record his maiden ODI century off just 84 balls with nine boundaries and two maximums. Indian debutant Jasprit Bumrah, who captured the prize wicket of Steve Smith with his awkward right-arm action, was the pick of the bowlers with 2-40.

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Australia Record Run Chase at Gabba

A 50-50 call went India’s way but little else did as George Bailey again helped Australia pull off a record Gabba run chase, sealing a seven-wicket win in Friday night’s second one-day international.

Last game centurion Bailey (76 not out) helped Australia eclipse India’s 308-8 with six balls to spare in front of 28,851 fans.

Australia reached 309-3 after 49 overs to establish a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. India looked to have reversed their fortunes when man-of-the-match Rohit Sharma (124) was adjudged not out on 89 despite a big knick to Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Made. It flew in the face of captain MS Dhoni’s view after the opening ODI loss that India were getting the raw end of 50-50 calls from umpires as payback for the team’s ongoing refusal to use the Decision Review System.

But India did not have much more luck, dropping Shaun Marsh four times as he set up the chase with a 145-run opening stand with Aaron Finch (both 71). India still gave themselves a sniff when Umesh Yadav bowled last game centurion Steve Smith (46) to reduce Australia to 3-244 in the 41st over. But Bailey picked up where he left off from his 112 in the first ODI to help Australia pull off the highest limited-overs run chase at the Gabba. The previous best was Australia’s 9-301 in January 2014 against England.

It marked the second straight game Australia had comfortably reeled in a 300-plus target set by India. Finch and Marsh put on Australia’s equal fifth-highest ODI opening partnership against India. Finch was magnificently caught by a diving Ajinkya Rahane at long on in the 25th over.

India had to try even harder to dismiss Marsh. Replacing David Warner (paternity leave), he was dropped on 19 and 69 and offered difficult chances on 22 and 57. His good fortune ran out in the 30th over when another simple chance was finally taken, this time off the recalled Ishant Sharma.

Earlier, Sharma backed up from his unbeaten 171 in Perth to notch the highest ODI score by an Indian opener at the Gabba and equal-fourth biggest overall at the Brisbane venue. He also shared a 121-run third-wicket stand with Rahane (89) and a 125-run second-wicket partnership with Virat Kohli (59).

James Faulkner (2-64) and Joel Paris (1-40) reeled in India, who lost 6-75 in the final 10 overs including four in the last two. The third ODI will be played on Sunday in Melbourne.

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Australia Close to Windies Whitewash

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Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja scored half-centuries to crush a defiant West Indies fightback, pushing Australia’s lead to an imposing 459 runs at the close of day three of the second Test on Monday.

The pair’s composed 79-run stand tempered the West Indies’ cheer after their bowlers took early wickets in the wake of some doughty tail-end batting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

After Khawaja’s dismissal for 56, Smith and Mitchell Marsh guided Australia to 179 for three at stumps in glorious sunshine. Skipper Smith was unbeaten on 70 with all-rounder Marsh on 18.

Replying to Australia’s mammoth first innings declaration at 551-3, West Indies were bowled out for 271 on the stroke of tea, but not without frustrating the Australian bowlers for the first two sessions.

After resuming the day on 91-6, debutant fast bowler Carlos Brathwaite rode his luck to make a rousing 59 on debut, with Darren Bravo anchoring the tail with a patient 81.

Although trailing by 280 runs, the West Indies bowlers took heart from the defiant rearguard action and captain Jason Holder had opener Joe Burns caught in the slips for four.

After engaging in some heated exchanges with opener David Warner, Holder caught the pint-sized vice captain for 17 in the gully to give Brathwaite his first Test wicket and reduce the Australians to 46-2.

Brathwaite’s celebrations bowled his captain over but Khawaja, one of four first innings centurions for Australia, teamed up with Smith to put down the minor insurrection before he was caught behind attempting an audacious ramp shot.

It was a memorable day for Brathwaite, who was dismissed twice by paceman James Pattinson but reprieved by the television umpire.

He was bowled attempting an ugly heave on 13, then caught at long leg for 50, but was called back when replays showed Pattinson had over-stepped the crease on both occasions.

Australia are bidding to wrap up the series 2-0 with victory in Melbourne after winning the opener in Hobart.

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Windies Suffer Burns and Khawaja

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Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns rewarded the Australian selectors’ faith with a pair of sparkling centuries as the hosts dominated a limp West Indies attack on the opening day of the second test on Saturday.

Having recovered from a hamstring strain, Khawaja celebrated his recall with a glittering 144, with Queensland team mate Burns making 128 in front of a festive Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd to drive Australia to 345-3 at stumps. The pair’s 258-run stand remained unbroken until well into the final session, with captain Steve Smith (32 not out) and Adam Voges (10) untested in negotiating the final overs.

Australia won the opener emphatically in Hobart and took a big stride toward sealing the three-match series with a game in hand after being sent in to bat by West Indies captain Jason Holder. Holder’s decision was a poor one in hindsight, with the MCG pitch flattening out in bright sunshine after rain held up play for an hour.

His players again failed to rally around their skipper, however, with the bowling tepid at best and fielding at times abysmal. Khawaja was dropped on 23 shortly after lunch after nicking a half-chance to the gully and spooned the simplest of chances to Marlon Samuels at cover to again be reprieved on 142.

He and Burns came together early in the morning session after opener David Warner was dismissed for a quickfire 23 and they erased any lingering confidence in the Caribbeans who were thrashed by an innings and 212 runs in Hobart. Unbeaten at tea, Burns and Khawaja ramped up their attack straight in the final session and raced to reach their centuries.

Burns made his ton and second test century first with a punch for three through point. Khawaja followed two balls later, scrambling for a single presented by a misfield. The pair ploughed on steadily to guide Australia past 250, with the West Indies bowlers’ hopes seemingly fixed on the batsmen suffering a lapse in concentration rather than succumbing to any sustained pressure.

As it happened, Burns duly delivered after the drinks break, getting stumped after charging down the wicket at part-time spinner Kraigg Brathwaite. Khawaja appeared to succumbed to fatigue rather than the bowler’s guile as he tickled Taylor down the leg-side to be caught behind.

After a run of modest scores, Burns was widely tipped to make way for the returning Khawaja but it was middle order batter Shaun Marsh making way for the stylish left-hander. “It was just a nice feeling to make a 100 for Australia on Boxing Day,” Burns told reporters. “Certainly something to savour ... Hopefully we can go on and win the Test match and win the series.”

West Indian Kraigg Brathwaite said it was a “decent day” for the tourists. “Obviously (they have to) try to be build some pressure to not let them score so freely,” said the spinner.

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Khawaja Thunder Boxing Day Doubt

Usman Khawaja will face a fitness test later this week which will determine his chances of returning to the Test arena on Boxing Day. 

The 28-year-old was due to return from a hamstring injury in Thursday night’s opening Big Bash League match for the Sydney Thunder. However Cricket Australia medical staff have ruled him out of the clash against cross-city rivals the Sixers.

Khawaja will now need to prove his fitness before Sunday’s match with the Melbourne Stars, which also acts as the only remaining fixture before the Boxing Day Test against the West Indies at the MCG.

If he fails that test, selectors will be spared the difficult decision of trying to slot Khawaja back into the Australian team at the expense of either Joe Burns or Shaun Marsh.

Khawaja has not played since injuring his hamstring in the second Test against New Zealand at the Waca Ground, and Australian coach Darren Lehmann is not willing to risk him without any previous game-time.

“We certainly need him playing and with the hamstring we don’t want him playing Test match cricket if he’s not fully fit,” Lehmann said after Australia’s defeat of the West Indies in Hobart.

“He will have to be sharp in those Big Bash League T20 games he’s playing and get through those – then we’ll make a decision from there.”

Khawaja was a key member of Australia’s top order against New Zealand, smashing centuries at the Gabba and Waca before being ruled out with the injury.

Australian captain Steve Smith is also battling a knee injury in the lead up to the MCG Test, and has been ruled out of the Sixers’ opening two BBL matches. He is expected to be fit for the Boxing Day Test.

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No Blues for New South Wales

Domestic one-day cup leaders NSW underlined their early-season dominance with an emphatic 75-run win over last year’s champions Western Australia, in a repeat match-up of the 2014 final.

NSW compiled an imposing 5-264 and WA were never really in the hunt, eventually being bowled out for 189 after 44.4 overs.

The result secured the Blues a third hefty win on the trot.

Australian Test fast bowler Mitchell Starc (4-23) again led the way for NSW, ripping through the WA top-order before fellow paceman Gurinder Sandhu (4-29) ended any hopes of a fightback with an inspired second spell.

Starc is comfortably the competition’s top wicket-taker with 14 scalps after three matches, at an unlikely average of five.

Earlier, Ed Cowan hit 100 and along with Nic Maddinson (74) laid the foundation for a big

NSW total with an opening partnership of 133.

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