Shane Warne frustrated by Yasir Shah's negative tactics

Australia legend spinner says Pakistan leggie lacked a plan while bowling on day three

Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne criticised leggie Yasir Shah’s negative tactics on Saturday during Australia’s second innings in the ongoing first day-night Test at Gabba.

Yasir, who is currently considered to be the best leg-spinner in the world with 116 wickets from 20 Tests before the match in Brisbane, was unable to impress his mentor on day three of the match.

"When you play in a new country where you haven't played and you want to learn how to bowl there, you've got to learn from the first innings," said Warne.

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He added: "Yasir Shah bowled 40-odd overs, took a couple of wickets, bowled better than that, but he's started exactly the same way to the left-handers [in the second innings]. He's got a 6-3 field on the on-side and he's bowling outside leg stump to the left-handers. I just can't believe that.”

Warne, who claimed 708 wickets from 145 Tests during a decorated career, said Yasir lacked a plan when bowling to the Australian left-hand batsmen.

"We saw Nathan Lyon turn and bounce the ball too, so Yasir Shah would have thought, 'Ok, the question I need to ask myself, how I am getting left-handers out?'”, explained Warne. "Bowled, LBW, bat-pad, caught slip — you're not going to get that if you're bowling a foot outside leg stump.”

The 47-year-old then indicted Yasir of not learning quickly even though he was such a smart operator with the ball.

"I just can't believe he hasn't learnt that from the first innings,” said Warne. “It's really disappointing because he's a smart cricketer. He's the best spin bowler in the world at the moment and he's just not learning quickly enough.”

Before Warner, the Australian captain Steven Smith had issued a warning to Yasir in regards to accuracy on the Gabba track.

"He's a class bowler,” said Smith. “He's pretty accurate as a leg-spinner, he's got good skills and we're going to have to be wary of him in this series. At the Gabba you'll get a bit of extra bounce as a spin bowler, and that can play in your favour but it can also play against you — your length has to be spot on.”

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He continued: “Generally there isn't too much turn, it's more bounce, so length is crucial and if you're slightly off your length, [batsmen] can really cash in down the wicket and square of the wicket as well. So he's going to have to be pretty accurate.”

Yasir bagged two wickets in the first innings, however, two catches were dropped off his bowling. Meanwhile, in the second innings, he could only account for one batsman. But, Warne thinks, there was enough in the track to "to cause the Aussies some real hassle".

"To use him in a defensive manner, sure there's a time and place for that, but right now when you're trying to get back into the game — the only way you can do that is take these wickets," said Warne. "Who's coming up with these plans? Is it the captain? Is it the bowler? You've got to ask the question because it just doesn't make any sense."

Pakistan are chasing 490 runs in the second innings with two days and one session to go in the first of the three-Test series. Moreover, Misbah’s men are chasing a history series victory in Australia, which no Asian team has been able to pull off, ever.

Shane Warne was quoted by cricket.com.au