Warne calls for brave captaincy from ‘by-the-book-type’ Ashes captains

SYDNEY - Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has urged Ashes captains Ricky Ponting and Andrew Strauss to be brave and use a ‘gambler’s instinct’ while taking their decision in the upcoming series.

“To be fair, Strauss and Ricky are by-the-book-type captains, but they have the opportunity this summer to show their tactics and flair,” Warne wrote in his column in Sunday Telegraph.

“Deep down, I think they have got it, but they have to grow some cojones [Spanish for testicles]. Find the courage to back their instincts instead of being afraid that it might not come off.”

“As long as there is a method behind their thinking then they have a good chance of it working,” he added.

The 41-year-old further believes that Brisbane is England’s best chance of winning a Test match in Australia.

“It is at the Gabba where they can bowl Australia out twice because it swings for the majority of the first day. It also offers a bit of seam movement and can spin early too. So, with that in mind, there must be a thought that if they bowl well they can knock over Australia cheaply and really put pressure on those guys in the team playing for their places,” Warne said.

“If England bowl as they can, and catch well too, they could prove that bowling first is not madness. But that would mean Strauss being bold, brave and having a gambler’s instinct,” he added. (ANI)