SYDNEY, Oct 19: Despite hailing him as “the greatest cricketer there has ever been,” new Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) president Robin Marlar believes that Shane Warne and teammate Glenn McGrath are infringing upon spirit of the game with excessive appealing.

“One of things that has emerged as a new development, and not necessarily a good one, is bowlers glaring at umpires, daring them not to refer it upstairs,” said Marlar, when questioned by ABC Radio commentator Jim Maxwell on his opinion of experiment in just-concluded ICC Super Series of umpires having option of referring all appeals to television official for clarification.

“We saw two examples of that (during ‘Super Test’). Guess who? The old campaigners McGrath and Warne, and they won both times,” 74-year-old retired journalist contended.

“They just absolutely frightened umpires into putting it upstairs. I can’t see that that’s very helpful.”

Warne finished with six wickets in “Super Test” while McGrath claimed three, but both were overshadowed by another leg-spinner, Stuart MacGill, who pressed his claims for a prolonged spell in Australian Test team with match figures of nine for 82.

Despite Marlar’s concerns, West Indies squad, who are on their way to Australia for a three-Test series starting Nov 3 in Brisbane, can expect more belligerent appealing from home team’s two most experienced bowlers, although experimental rule of tv referrals will not be in force in the series.

MCC chief, who took 970 first-class wickets for Cambridge University, Sussex and MCC from 1951 to 1968, was nevertheless full of praise for Warne’s impact on the game in past decade.

“I believe he saved a part of game (wrist-spin bowling) from extinction,” Marlar said of 36-year-old who lifted his world record tally of Test wickets to 629 from 129 matches since making his debut against India in 1991. Warne saved it. He is a particularly wonderful exponent of the art.”

Amid wholesale condemnation of Super Series concept in light of Australia’s almost complete domination of under-performing World XI In three one-dayers and “Super Test”, head of organisation that once governed the game from it’s Lord’s headquarters remained guardedly optimistic.

“This didn’t work, but everyone’s looking for instant gratification from a new concept aren’t they?” he suggested.

“I would have thought it was worth persevering with, although I don’t quite know how they’re going to do it. But it’s what’s driving modern game on...the raising of money.”

International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed stated there were no plans to make Super Series a regular fixture on international calendar, but did not rule out possibility of re-working format into possibly a clash of top two Test teams.—PPI