DON’T BOOT FALLEN OZ, SAYS WARNE

New Delhi: Australian spin legend Shane Warne has accused the country’s rivals of unfairly using the Test ball tampering controversy to kick the team when they are down. Warne, advisor to Indian Premier League side the Rajasthan Royals, said the cheating scandal should be used as an opportunity for other cricket teams to reflect on their own conduct. “It is very disappointing but I feel that this has given an opportunity to others to slam [ the] boot into Australians without any reason,” Warne said. Warne said he would not defend the conduct of Steve Smith and David Warner, who have been removed from their leadership positions and that he was “embarrassed” as any other Australian over the affair. “[ But] anyone who has been beaten by Australia, who don’t like the way the Australians play the game or they don’t like any individual in any country have taken the opportunity to take boots into the Australians,” he said in Jaipur. — AFP