Warne’s warning against T20 spin approach
SHANE Warne believes Australia should consider a radical selection plan to find its next Test leg-spinner to counter white-ball coaching methods which have turned the craft upside down.
It’s 12 years since leg-spinner Warne bowled the last of his 40,750 deliveries in Test cricket and had it not been for the arrival of Nathan Lyon, Australia’s slow-bowling depth would have been exposed.
The exasperating search for new leg-spinners goes on with none anywhere near Test selection despite the emergence of the occasional promising youngster such as Tanveer Sangha, 17, who this week signed a Big Bash contract with the Sydney Thunder.
Warne says the toughest thing for young leg-spinners is they are taught a method that is a complete contrast to the way he and many other famous leg-spinners before him learnt their craft.
Warne believes there is an argument to temporarily insulate top young spinners from the world of perpetual variety which is part of the white-ball scene.
“Part of me thinks we should be developing the next best spinners whoever they may be and saying ‘here is a big contract, you are not playing T20 for a year because we are concentrating on Tests’.
“If they are taught that way it would be easier for them to eventually adapt to the whiteball game but it’s very difficult to adapt the other way around.
“My leg-spinner was my stock ball. You have to be able to bowl that ball under pressure when you are being smashed. If they hit a good shot to a good ball, so be it.’’
Many spinners have watched Warne’s work on YouTube and tried to learn his tricks.
“When I heard that I thought ‘sheez’,’’ Warne said.
“But I look at my kids growing up and everything is on YouTube so there are going to be more kids coming through and learning from other bowlers like that as well.’’