Ashes down under: the sledging begins…

The former Australian spin bowler took aim at England captain Alastair Cook in comments to national newspapers.

“He can be negative, boring, not very imaginative – and still win and be happy,” Warne said. “But I’ll tell you my opinion: I think Alastair Cook has to be more imaginative.

“I think if Australia play well, and he continues to captain the way he does, England will lose the series. He lets the game drift.”

The comments are similar to those made by Warne – who these days earns his wages behind the microphone – during the previous Ashes series in the UK over the summer, which England won by three matches to nil.

England face Australia in the first test at the Gabba in Brisbane on 21 November.

Cook has brushed off Warne’s comments, saying it is what you expect from the Australians in the run-up to the Ashes.

“It’s not surprising, obviously, being an Australian and trying to get into the English camp, but I think everyone can see that,” Cook said.

And other England cricketers, past and present, have leapt to the captain’s defence.

Michael Clarkes win ratio as Test Captain is 41%. .. Alastair Cooks is 56% … Not bad for a negative one @warne888 !! #Nuffsaid.

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 4, 2013

Former England captain Michael Vaughan dismissed Warne’s comments on Twitter, pointing out Cook’s superior win rate as captain compared to Australia’s Michael Clarke.

Batsman Joe Root responded to Warne’s comments: “I don’t think Shane Warne’s ever said a nice word about an England touring team, so I think it would be wrong for me to listen to everything he says.

“But I’ll definitely be making sure I prepare well going into that first Test match.”

Finest sledge in Ashes history?

Upon arrival at the Ashes 2001 fifth test, at the Oval, Mark Waugh, brother of Australian captain Steve Waugh, called out to England's James Ormond: "Look who it is. Mate, what are you doing here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England." 

Ormond replied: "Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family."

And Ian Bell, who topped the batting averages in the last Ashes series, said: “I’ve certainly learnt over time that there’s no point wasting energy trying to find compliments from Australians. It’s just not going to happen.

“We could win 5-0 and still have negatives from Australia, so I’m not going to waste any energy any more worrying about it – and I don’t think the other lads will either.”