KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16: Shane Warne has furiously backtracked from reported criticism of Australian coach John Buchanan, saying he was ‘shocked’ at the way he claimed his words had been taken out of context.

British tabloid The Sun quoted him on Friday as saying Buchanan deserved few plaudits for Australia’s world cricket domination. He also reportedly suggested the team didn't need a coach at all.

It prompted urgent voicemail messages for an explanation from Buchanan and Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

Warne, in England, on Friday evening called Buchanan at his hotel in Kuala Lumpur, where Australia are playing in a one-day tri-series with India and the West Indies.

“Shane said he was shocked at the way he said his comments had been taken out of context,” a Cricket Australia official who took part in the 10-minute phone conversation said.

“He explained that the report did not represent his views. He said he is very committed to team solidarity. It was an amicable call and the team now moves on.”

The legendary leg-spinner was quoted as saying that in his eyes the coach was simply something you travelled on to a match.

“He has been our coach during a successful era but that begs a question – does the coach make the team or does the team make the coach?” he reportedly said.

“You need some sort of team manager more than a coach like we have at Hampshire with Paul Terry, where the captain runs the team and the manager sorts out everything else.

“International players know how to play. You dont need a coach getting too technical. You can forget that you just need to bowl the ball.”

Warne, who has previously had a strained relationship with Buchanan, no longer plays one-day cricket for Australia but remains a fixture of their Test team.

Last month he called for Australia's next coach to be a more experienced ex-player, in place of Buchanan who had a modest record at state level for Queensland.

During Buchanan's seven-year reign, Australia has gained outstanding success, winning 24 Test series, drawing one and losing two – in India in 2000-01 and last year's Ashes series in England.

—AFP