SYDNEY — Test great Shane Warne Wednesday called on Australia coach Mickey Arthur to be replaced by former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming days after branding the nation's cricket chiefs “muppets”. The outspoken leg-spinner, who said he was “frustrated on many levels at present”, praised Fleming as “the best opposition captain we played against” on his website www.shanewarne.com. “I believe he brings a lot to the table, a calmness, an intelligent understanding of the game and a very good cricket brain. He's a good communicator too as well as a good leader of men.” Warne, 43, who also wants former Test wicketkeeper Rod Marsh as chairman of selectors, said the current Australian set-up was not working as the players gear up for two Ashes series against England over the next year. In a post entitled “Where is Australian cricket at? Part 1” on his website, Warne said: “The next 12 months is the biggest 12 months of cricket for the Australian cricket team in a long, long time. “If we do nothing now, we will be where we were 30 years ago. There needs to be urgent action and a new strategy/plan put in place.” In Twitter comments Monday, Warne blasted Cricket Australia's policy of rotating players, which has attracted stinging criticism from other greats of the game. “I think CA really need to look at the people who are making decisions on all facets of cricket in Australia, we r seriously becoming a joke!” Warne said. “We have the best batsmen / captain in the world in @MClarke23 (Test captain Michael Clarke) - He needs current cricket people to help him out not muppets,” he added. Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland has told Warne he is happy to discuss Warne's ideas but has expressed disappointment with the manner in which he expressed his concerns, CA said on its website. Australia, third in the Test and one-day rankings, lost the recent Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka after drawing the one-day series and beating the visitors in the Test series. Also Wednesday, CA said that Australian pace great Dennis Lillee had been appointed to CA's high-performance team as a fast bowling advisor. Khawaja replaces Warner Australia opener David Warner will miss the first two ODIs against West Indies with a fractured thumb and has been replaced in the squad by Usman Khawaja, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday. Warner was struck by a Mitchell Johnson delivery while batting in the nets at Perth, suffering a minor left thumb fracture and ruling him out of the matches Friday and Sunday at the WACA. After the five-match one-day series against West Indies followed by a Twenty20 International, Australia will tour India for a four-Test series beginning on Feb. 22. — Agencies
