Steve Waugh on Warne’s criticism: “Don’t need to justify anything”

Steve Waugh on Warne’s criticism: The former Australian captain has broken his silence on his former deputy’s criticism.

In his recently released autobiography named ‘No Spin’, legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne had termed former Australia captain as the most ‘selfish’ player he ever played with and someone who was only concerned with keeping his average above 50.

Citing Australia’s tour of West Indies in 1999, where Steve Waugh had dropped his deputy in Warne for the fourth Test of the series, Warne considered it to be a tipping point in their relationship as Waugh went with his ‘gut’ against the likes of Warne, Geoff Marsh and Allan Border. The decision went in Waugh’s favour as a 176-run victory at Antigua aided Australia to draw level the series 2-2.

Finally breaking his silence on the issue on ABC’s News Breakfast, Waugh was quoted, “I’m responding [to Warne] by not responding because I don’t think it needs a response.”

On being asked about the decision of dropping Warne nearly two decades ago, Waugh said that he made that decision for the ‘benefit’ of the team. “I had to make a decision as a captain and as a leader. Unfortunately, I didn’t want to make that decision but I did it for the benefit of the team. You’ve got to have loyalty to a certain degree but you can’t have blind loyalty. I guess that’s what Shane expected on that occasion,” he said.

Waugh was of the opinion that such decisions are the consequences of being a leader of a national team. “I had to make a decision. I got on fine with Shane we had a great relationship. As a leader you’re put in a tough position sometimes but that’s why you’re a leader,” he added.

Read some of the recent Twitter reactions on Warne below: