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'Muppets': Shane Warne blasts critics over on-air comments

Shane Warne (pictured) during commentary.
Shane Warne (pictured) has responded to criticism over his comments on Marnus Labuschagne. (Getty images)

Shane Warne has again moved to address his comments on Aussie batsman Marnus Labuschagne before taking a dig at his critics.

Warne and fellow Aussie cricket great Andrew Symonds were widely condemned last week when controversial remarks about Labuschagne were picked up by their microphones.

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Preparing to commentate a Big Bash game for Fox Sports, Warne and Symonds thought they weren’t on-air yet when they started discussing some of Labuschagne’s unorthodox batting antics.

After claiming Marnus had no issue with his comments in a News Corp article, Warne went a step further and addressed the situation ahead of Day 2 of the Gabba Test.

But this time, Warne took a swipe at the ‘muppets’ for the criticism he has received over the comments.

“I just want to clear something up,” Warne said during commentary on Fox Sports.

“I’ve been a huge fan of Marnus. I’ve read a few reports saying ‘cop that Shane!’ about what you said about [him].

“What I said about Marnus Labuschagne was ‘bat properly’. And what that means is none of that silly stuff of ‘wait on!’ and all of that carry on.

“Just bat, because you’re such a good player and yesterday I thought he didn’t do any of that stuff and he made a brilliant hundred.

“So that’s all I was talking about, to clear it up for some of those, let’s call them ‘muppets’, about what they write.

“I just wanted to let you know, I’ve always been a big fan of Marnus. I communicated with him, [it’s] all fine. He laughed at it! He found it amusing, he was fine.”

Regardless of the criticism, Labuschagne led the Aussie charge at the Gabba on Day 1 with a brilliant century.

Marnus and teammates make fun of Warne furore

The comments were blasted by many on social media and the Aussie team were well aware of what was said.

In the field on day four of the third Test against India, Tim Paine and Matthew Wade could be heard talking to Labuschagne about the controversy.

“When you're 100 Tests in and I'm commentating, it's going to be exactly the same,” Paine told Labuschagne, who was fielding at short leg.

Shane Warne (pictured left) works with Marnus Labuschagne (pictured right)  on his bowling during day two of the 4th Specsavers Test between England and Australia at Old Trafford on September 05, 2019 in Manchester, England.
Shane Warne (pictured left) works with Marnus Labuschagne (pictured right) on his bowling during day two of the 4th Specsavers Test between England and Australia at Old Trafford on September 05, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Getty Images)

“I'm going to be sitting with Roy (Symonds) and Warnie, saying the same thing. Hogpiling.”

Labuschagne replied: “Mate if you keep that sh*t up we're going to have to squash your guts out your arse.”

Wade, who was also fielding close to the bat, then said: “I'll be coaching in 10 years, you'll be playing and I'll be saying 'if you'd have just taken Warnie and Roy's advice, back at the start, we wouldn't be in this situation.”

Labuschange responded: “Stump mic must be on.”

Once again in commentary duties for Fox Sports, Warne listened in silence as fellow commentator Mark Howard could be heard telling producers “turn it down”.

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