Give Warne a break Click here for more on this story Posted: Saturday June 12, 1999 11:40 AM   Shane Warne has not shown his usual form over Australia's last two World Cup matches. Clive Mason/Allsport LEEDS, England (AP) -- Australian skipper Steve Waugh Saturday called for an end to media criticism of leg spinner Shane Warne. He said if the continual scrutiny didn't end, Australia could lose one of its greatest ever cricketers. Warne, described by Waugh as a "great asset to the game", has come under fire since he was dropped from the test side in the West Indies for the first time in 69 tests in April this year. In 15.2 overs in two World Cup matches against India and Zimbabwe, the Australian vice-captain has conceded 104 runs and taken just one wicket and the pressure on him to quit is mounting. But Waugh, preparing his team for Sunday's Super Six match against title favorite South Africa, said Warne was a vital part of the team and "will come good when it counts." "Give the guy a bit more leeway," he said. "I think he deserves that." "I really don't know what people want from him. "They want to try to take a guy down and lose one of Australia's greatest ever cricketers." Warne's World Cup fortunes have see-sawed just as Australia's and Waugh said it was effecting the champion spinner, who was taking a "few things personally". "He wants to win the world cup and so do we," Waugh said. "He's taken a few [negative comments] personally. It's hard not to." "He is in the public eye now and big news all the time ... [but] you can destroy a guy if you go too far." Warne has been one of cricket's most controversial players. At the start of the World Cup, he was fined by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) for criticizing Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga in a newspaper column in a British broadsheet. "He's always going to attract publicity," Waugh said. "He knows that. I think just recently, it's gone a little bit over the top. Warne, who became a father for the second time during the World Cup, has also been linked to a phone-sex confession by a British model in a local tabloid. "His personal life, private life... even people writing him off as a cricketer" has to stop, Waugh said. "It will be good for the next week or so if other guys took the publicity rather than Shane." The 29-year-old spinner, who has taken 317 wickets (average 25.06) in 71 tests and 192 wickets (average 24.78) in 122 one-day internationals, was subjected to fresh allegations of bribery this week by former test batsman David Hookes. Warne together with batsman Mark Waugh was fined by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) in 1995 for accepting money from an Indian bookmaker to provide match information during Australia's cricket tour of Sri Lanka in September 1994. The fine was kept secret until the facts emerged last year. The ACB held a new inquiry and decided not to take further action against the pair.   Related information Stories Waugh: South Africa can be beaten After slow start, Australia on track for final Steve Waugh's plan to win the World Cup Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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