Waugh the most selfish cricketer I´ve played with – Warne

Shane Warne has hit out at former Australia captain Steve Waugh, who he described as the “most selfish cricketer” he has played with.

Outspoken Warne – widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in the history of the game – pinpointed his axing from the final Test of Australia’s West Indies tour in 1999 as one of the key reasons for his animosity toward the former Test skipper.

Colin Miller was favoured ahead of Warne for the fourth and final Test, with the Windies leading 2-1, after the latter had managed a return of just two wickets in three matches.

Speaking as a contestant on Australian television programme ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Outta Here’, set to be aired on Tuesday, 46-year-old Warne said: “There are a lot of reasons I don’t like Steve Waugh … [one of them] because he’s the most selfish cricketer I’ve played with.

“One thing that really annoyed me about him was the one Test I got dropped, in the West Indies [in 1999], we had to win the last Test match to [retain] the [Frank Worrell] Trophy. At that stage, captain [Waugh], vice-captain [me], coach [Geoff Marsh] used to pick the team.

“We went to selection. I hadn’t bowled well [and] we had lost – Brian Lara batted unreal – but I felt like I was being the scapegoat, that because I didn’t bowl well it was my fault.

“We got to the selection table and said ‘What’s everyone’s thoughts?’. Steve Waugh said [to me] ‘You’re not playing’. I went ‘What? Hang on. What do you think the team should be? Blah blah blah’, and Steve Waugh said ‘Nup, I’m the captain of this side … you’re not playing’.

“I was really disappointed with that after [almost] 10 years. I’d just had a shoulder operation. I thought the situation, of having to win a Test match, would’ve brought the best out in me too.

“I don’t like Steve Waugh for a lot of other reasons, but that was the reason I thought [there was no way that relationship would recover].”