Shane Warne gives pep talk to Australian team after big defeat

Known for speaking his mind on cricketing matters, spin legend Shane Warne today gave a pep talk to the Australian team after the visitors' comprehensive defeat to India in the first cricket Test here.

Warne is not new when it comes to offering ideas and had, in a two-part manifesto last month, launched an attack on the state of Australian cricket, calling several CA officials "muppets", including high-performance chief Pat Howard and selection boss John Inverarity.

After watching the Australian team crash to an eight-wicket loss at the M A Chidambaram Stadium here, Warne, commentating on the series, entered the field to have an impromptu mid-ground chat with the players.

Eight members from the Australian team management, including skipper Michael Clarke, who regards Warne as one of his cricketing mentors, coach Mickey Arthur and his assistant Steve Rixon were seen listening attentively to the former leg-spinner.

Also in attendance, though for a brief while, were tweakers Nathan Lyon and Xavier Doherty.

Warne, however, declined to divulge details of his meeting with the players.

At the post-match press conference, Clarke joked about Warne's presence.

"Warnie is in town, I'll see if he's available," Clarke said.

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