IND v AUS: Time to change Australia's batting coach, suggests Shane Warne

Shane Warne believes Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh are among a host of Australian Test greats who should replace under-siege batting coach Graeme Hick

Right before the commencement of the 1^st T20I against India, spin legend Shane Warne has given a big statement on Australian coaching staff. The former cricketer suggested that the Australians need a new batting coach who would replace Graeme Hick to help them improve their performance.

Warne was critical of Hick, under whom, Australia have lost their last 18 matches out of the past 24 matches in all formats, including the loss to South Africa in the one-off Twenty20 on Saturday.

“It's time for a change. The one thing I would say is, Australian cricket over the last 25-30 years has had some terrific batsmen. Graeme Hick has been there for the last few years and seen that the players are making the same mistakes all the time; it's time for a change," Warne said.

Warne believes one of the former Australian greats can do justice to the job.

“Whether it be Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey, I'm sure any of those guys could do it. We've had great cricketers for the past 25 years and they [should] be around the cricket team more often. Get Glenn McGrath with the bowlers, there are so many opportunities,” the former Australian leggie added.

Cricket Australia on Tuesday upheld the year-long ball-tampering bans handed to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft and Warne slammed Australian Cricketers' Association president Greg Dyer for trying to reduce the suspensions.

“I think once the bans were in place, even though I thought they were too harsh at the time, you can't overrule them. I was disappointed Greg Dyer and the Players' Association even did that, unfortunately. You can't overturn them because Australia's cricketers are playing so badly,” said Warne.

India’s tour of Australia kickstarted on Wednesday with the first T20I being played at the Gabba in Brisbane. India have won the toss and elected to bowl first.

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Lokesh Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, K Khaleel Ahmed

Australia (Playing XI): D Arcy Short, Aaron Finch(c), Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Ben McDermott, Alex Carey(w), Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Jason Behrendorff, Billy Stanlake