Warne rips into Buchanan over Clarke comments

Shane Warne has unleashed an incredible tirade at former Australia coach John Buchanan while coming to the defence of his great mate, Michael Clarke.

Buchanan earlier this week suggested Michael Clarke had eroded the culture of the Baggy Green.

Buchanan was just one of many cricket personalities who attacked Clarke in the wake of his retirement announcement. But it was Buchanan that Warne took particular exception to.

He certainly did not miss him when questioned about the comments this morning.

“It’s an absolute joke, really. Guys like John Buchanan trying to do cheap shots and say that he’s let [down] the culture of the baggy green. Give us a break, mate. Are you for real?” Warne said.

“This bloke had no idea about the game of cricket, John Buchanan.

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“He never played the game, doesn’t know what the players go through. And suddenly he’s saying he wrecked the culture of the baggy green.

“I mean that is just a disgraceful comment from someone who had no idea about the game of cricket.

“I mean come on you absolute tall so and so.”

Buchanan did not mince his words either when asked about Clarke.

This is what offended Warne.

“Players like Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and others really tried to make the baggy green culture something special but I could sense it was under threat and under Michael’s captaincy I can sense it has disappeared a bit and that disappointed me,’’ Buchanan said.

“If he finished games early, Michael would often leave early. I can remember guys like Hayden and Langer sitting him down in a corner and trying to get him to understand what we were trying to achieve. There were times when I felt Michael did not understand or did not want to understand.

“If Michael reads this I am sure he will say he did cherish the culture but if you asked him to define it, his definition would not be the same as the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Ponting or myself.’’

Warne never got on with Buchanan during the years they were part of the Australia cricket team together.

But even so Warne’s reply had some extra sting to it.