My News

22.06.07

The Times - I’m right about Mascarenhas, just wait and see

Published by Shane Warne

It was some of the best news I’ve had for ages. Regular readers will know that I’ve consistently pushed for Dimi, but everybody in county cricket must think he is a good pick.

Yes, he’s one of my best mates. We play golf and poker together, and he stayed in our house last year during the Melbourne Test. But that doesn’t influence my judgment. I would not make myself look an idiot by saying he can do this, that and the other if I knew, deep down, he would fall short.

Come the end of the NatWest Series I think people will be surprised at how good he is and will be asking why it has taken so long for the selectors to give him a chance. Maybe there is a feeling that he lacks a yard of pace. But he is a crafty bowler and as a captain I can throw him the ball at any stage.

He is great to bowl with at the other end because he keeps things tight and builds up pressure. Batsmen cannot hit him when he bowls stump to stump with a ring field. Because he makes them play he can be deadly when there is some help, but he does not need that to be effective.

As a batsman he is one of the best finishers in the game. We like to have him in for the last 15 overs whatever the situation. He can work the gaps and fly between the wickets or stand straight and hit fours and sixes. I hope England have faith in him to bat at six or seven against West Indies.

The captaincy was a foregone conclusion. The selectors did not have much option except to go for Paul Collingwood. Kevin Pietersen is right to stick to concentrating on batting for the time being: why change something when it works so well?

I still think that Michael Vaughan is the best Test captain, but I guess that they have identified Collingwood as someone who is very competitive. He is sure of his place in the side but it will be a big responsibility to make all the decisions when he already bats, bowls and fields.

My experience of playing under split captains goes back to the time when Mark Taylor led the Test team and then Steve Waugh took over the one-day side. They led in different ways: “Tubby” was an aggressive communicator and a hands-on tactician whereas Stephen led by the example of his batting. We were all good players so we managed to adjust to the different styles. But I think it could become a problem if egos get in the way and both guys think they ought to be in charge of the Test and one-day sides. Ideally, the same bloke would be the captain of both formats.

I don’t see problems arising with England because Collingwood is such a big fan of Vaughan. He even caddied for him at the Dunhill golf event so there is a very good working relationship there, especially for Vaughan. I wonder how often in golf the caddie ends up playing the shots.

It surprised me when Warwickshire left out Ian Bell for the Friends Provident Trophy semi-final against us on Wednesday. In a way I admire them for sticking with the guys who got them there, but they were laying themselves open to so much criticism if they lost.

County cricket is about producing England players and it sends out the wrong message if internationals do not play when the chance is there. Can you imagine Hampshire leaving out Pietersen? That would be crazy. It was a tough call to drop Chris Benham – a future England player – but we did it.

Mark Greatbatch, their director of coaching, has to take responsibility now for that decision. I wonder what the consequences will be. Bell must be thinking about his future, and if he decides that Warwickshire don’t want him, then I would be more than happy to have a little chat. 

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