'Real shame that England players urinated on Oval pitch'
Shane Warne says he was sure it will have some big ramifications from the ECB.
LONDON (Agencies) - Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne said Tuesday criticized peeing on Oval pitch by English players.
"When you play in a six to eight-week series of intense Ashes cricket you should always have a chance to let your hair down at the end. Unfortunately the way people are judged these days it s best to celebrate within the confines of the dressing room," Warne said.
"Stay in there as long as you like, get as drunk as you like if that is what you want to do and enjoy your team-mates and the moment. But to go and disrespect something as ancient as the Oval pitch in such an unnecessary and crass way is a pretty ordinary and arrogant thing to do," wrote Warne.
"It s a real shame they let themselves down so badly and I m sure it will have some big ramifications from the ECB," said Warne. However, the ECB has been rather quiet about the incident. Inquiries have gone without a reply and it is likely that the management will let the players off with a minor wrap on the knuckle.
Meanwhile, British paper The Telegraph publish a surrey which says the County that has the historic Oval as their home ground -- have asked the England cricket Board for an apology and investigate the peeing incident.
England s 3-0 Ashes triumph is losing sheen after the Australian media reported on Monday that Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad and James Anderson urinated on The Oval pitch while being cheered by team-mates.
Richard Gould, the Surrey CEO, has slammed the behaviour of the players and admitted the nature of celebration spoils England s image after a convincing series victory. Former Australian spin king Shane Warne, too has slammed the English players. Sports minister Hugh Robertson has also wanted a probe.
In 2005, English players celebrated their Ashes win with a mammoth drinking session. The party continued in a reception at Downing Street with Prime Minister Tony Blair. It later emerged one of the players urinated in the Blair s garden.
In 2009, the ECB and coach Andy Flower were careful that the celebrations didn t go overboard. The players partied quietly before going to Ireland for a 50-over match.
