Advertisement

Warne's radical proposal for massive Aussie Test cull

Shane Warne has proposed a massive Test cull following Australia’s horror series loss to Pakistan.

The leg spinning legend says heads will roll after the Aussies slumped to a crushing 373-run defeat in the second Test in Abu Dhabi – and he’s called for an incredible seven players to face the chopping block.

The defeat was Austrailia’s heaviest ever against Pakistan, and Warne shared his proposed Team for the upcoming summer series:

Chasing a whopping 538 to win, a deflated Australian batting lineup left one man down by Khawaja’s injury were bowled out for 164 shortly after lunch on day four.

Australia’s grim prospects ahead of the home summer were writ large as they suffered their fourth-highest losing Test margin by runs.

Man of the match Abbas continued his phenomenal series to snare 10 wickets across both innings as Australia fell short of their first Test series victory in Asia since 2011.

But Warne says it’s simply not good enough, and it re-iterated his earlier call for the Marsh brothers to be dropped due to their form.

Shane Warne says seven players are facing the chopping block. Pic: Getty
Shane Warne says seven players are facing the chopping block. Pic: Getty

Warne left a few middle order batsmen spots open for discussion, but he believes big-hitting D’Arcy Short and the return of pace bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins is a must.

The defeat also followed the short-handed Australians’ 492-run loss to end the ill-fated series against South Africa in April.

Serious questions will linger about how Australia managed to end up so far behind the game after an inspired Nathan Lyon spell left Pakistan reeling at 5-57 in the first innings.

Australia’s bowlers failed to press their advantage after Lyon’s brilliance, and the 145 put on in reply was their fourth-lowest first innings total in Asia.

Tim Paine’s men resumed at 1-47 on Friday with hopes of at least putting up a fight after showing tremendous mettle to secure a draw in the first Test in Dubai.

But on a day that began with news Khawaja had torn the meniscus in his left knee, the Australians looked drained and down for the count.

Travis Head’s nick to Abbas on 36 in the seventh over of the day sparked a woeful collapse of 4-7 in 26 balls.

Abbas struck again in his following over to dismiss Mitchell Marsh (five) after Pakistan successfully reviewed the not-out decision for lbw.

Much of the focus has been on the poor form of 35-year-old Shaun Marsh, who is under serious pressure to hold his spot for the home summer, but his younger brother barely fared better in his first series as vice-captain.

Aaron Finch also fell lbw to Abbas on 31 and Paine followed three balls later, failing to offer a shot to a delivery which angled back into the right-hander and knocked over his off stump.

Skipper Tim Paine rues Australian batting collapses. Pic: Getty
Skipper Tim Paine rues Australian batting collapses. Pic: Getty

Rookie batsman Marnus Labuschagne fought grimly in just his second Test to top-score with 43 before becoming the fifth Abbas victim for the day.

Labuschagne combined with Mitchell Starc (28) for a defiant 67-run partnership before the paceman was trapped in front by legspinner Yasir Shah, who cleaned up the tail with the wickets of Peter Siddle and Jon Holland.

Khawaja was expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks after scans revealed he had suffered a meniscal tear which is likely to require surgery.

with AAP.