Warnie savages Aussies with 'elite honesty' grenade

Shane Warne has laid into Aussie cricket’s new policy of “elite honesty” in a scathing slap down for the under-pressure national side.

The cricket legend reckons Australia’s new buzz words are nothing more than “verbal diarrhoea”, saying the team should be focused on action rather than talk.

Fans were quick to poke fun of the “elite honesty” phrase plastered earlier this week in Australia’s change rooms, while the new players’ pact was also criticised for being too fluffy and cringe worthy.

Warne, never been one to mince his words, let his frustrations flow while watching Australia’s horrible display against South Africa in Sunday’s ODI in Perth.

“Forget all the words, forget the verbal diarrhoea and all that sort of stuff,” Warne said during his Foxtel commentary.

“That’s just rubbish, that sort of stuff. Seriously, it makes you want to vomit.

“At the end of the day, cricket is a simple game and it’s a performance-based game. You’ve got to perform on the field.

“All these words and everything – it’s all about actions. And I think it’s got to be the basics.”

Warne said it was important for new ODI captain Aaron Finch and vice-captain Alex Carey to inspire the team.

“JL (coach Justin Langer) is there to help prepare the players. The captain and vice-captain get out and say this is the way we’re going to play,” Warne said.

“But if the leaders of the team aren’t performing and they’re not setting a good example, that won’t create inspiration from within. It’s as simple as that.

“Nothing you can write in a 200-page document (will change that), and you have sports science and high performance and all that ridiculous stuff.

“You can’t forget what Australians are, their DNA, and that is hard, aggressive and positive cricket. And then play fairly.”

Proteas thump sorry Aussies in opening ODI

Australia’s batting woes have continued, with another top-order flop playing a key part in their six-wicket ODI loss to South Africa on Sunday in Perth.

The home side never recovered after slumping to 3-8 in the sixth over when captain Aaron Finch failed to review a lbw decision that went against him.

Replays showed the Lungi Ngidi delivery would have sailed over the stumps.

Australia crashed to 6-66 in the 21st over, and were eventually bowled out for 152 in the 39th over in front of 24,342 fans at Perth Stadium.

The home side wouldn’t have reached triple figures if not for wicketkeeper Alex Carey (33 off 71 balls) and tail-ender Nathan Coulter-Nile (34 off 31 balls).

They were the only players to make it past 16.

South Africa cruised to the victory target in just 29.2 overs, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Australia have lost 17 of their past 19 ODIs, and are running out of time to get their act together for next year’s World Cup in England.

Batting collapses have become a worrying trend in all three formats for Australia.

The bans handed to Steve Smith and David Warner have further exposed the cracks.

That was evident against Pakistan in the failed Test and T20 tour of the UAE, and Australia showed they were also vulnerable on home soil.

Sent in to bat on a lively Perth Stadium wicket, Australia couldn’t handle South Africa’s fierce attack.

Firebrand pace ace Kagiso Rabada (0-30) went wicketless from his eight overs, but it mattered little as South Africa received important contributions from their other stars.

Dale Steyn (2-18), Ngidi (2-26), Imran Tahir (2-39) and Andile Phehlukwayo (3-33) all chipped in to embarrass Australia on their home soil.

The day started badly for Australia with news that Shaun Marsh would miss the match because of an abscess on his buttocks.

Marsh was due to undergo surgery on Sunday to fix the problem. It’s hoped he will return for Friday’s second ODI in Adelaide.

Paceman Mitchell Starc, who suffered a minor hamstring niggle during the Pakistan Test series, joined Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Coulter-Nile in a powerful pace attack.

But Australia’s tiny total meant the pace quartet had little chance to have any meaningful impact.

Allrounder Marcus Stoinis finished with 3-16 to be the best of the bowlers, with Starc and Coulter-Nile leaking runs.

Cummins (0-18) looked dangerous and gave Reeza Hendricks (44) a painful bruise on the shoulder with a rising delivery.

South African opener Quinton de Kock (47 off 40 balls) did most of the damage with the bat.