Warne 'pressurises umpires'
2005-12-29 11:39
Melbourne - Australia's high-profile leg-spinner Shane Warne is a master at pressuring umpires in his appeals for a wicket, South African coach Mickey Arthur said on Thursday.
The world's top Test wicket-taker bowled Australia close to victory in the second Test with 3-43 on the fourth day. The Proteas were 99 for six and trailing by 266 runs heading into the final day.
Warne's aggressive appealing has been a hot topic this summer with the touring West Indian and South African teams and Arthur was the latest to voice his opinion.
"To be blatantly honest I think they (Aussies) do put pressure on the umpires and they're masters at it," Arthur told reporters.
"Especially Warney. He is a master of it. I guess he has an aura about him.
"He is a world champion bowler and if we had guys like him we would also be putting pressure on them (umpires).
"I can never say it's wrong, but they do (put pressure on). Warney is good value out there and he does put pressure on umpires.
"I can't say if that's right or wrong because if I had a guy like him I'd also be putting pressure on umpires."
On whether it influenced umpires' decision-making, Arthur said: "No. Look, I think they've got it quite right today. I think you can see that they were spot on and their decisions were really good."
Arthur said his players were crestfallen by their second-innings collapse. The Australians are poised to take a one-nil lead in the series heading into next week's final Test on the spin-friendly Sydney wicket.
Proteas 'pretty down'
"We are pretty down about it. It has been a titanic struggle. We have knocked them but haven't been able to get them down and they have come back harder at us," he said.
"I guess, that's the sign of a champion side, in that just when you think you're going to land the killer blow, they come back harder."
Arthur said something has to give under the pressure applied by Ricky Ponting's Australians.
"When you play under that sort of pressure, and some of our guys are still young and are a young developing team, to play under continual pressure for eight days, something had to give.
"I thought Australia took the initiative early today and held the sway for the day. I guess, the pressure gave way today," Arthur said.
"But it's not over yet. Anything can happen. We will go to Sydney a far stronger outfit. Our bounceability is quite strong."
- SAPA