SYDNEY, Feb 9: Reacting to Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer's charge that Australian players and the crowd played a significant role in prompting international umpires to give decisions against Pakistan in the series against Australia, record-breaking leg spinner Shane Warne said that Inzamamul Haq's boys were "simply outplayed".

"Pakistanis were simply outplayed," Herald Sun on Wednesday quoted Warne as saying, referring to 3-0 Test rout and 2-0 tri-series finals rout.

He said that criticism of umpires by Woolmer was "very disappointing". "If he had a fair dinkum think about it, he and the Pakistanis were simply outplayed," Warne said.

Woolmer said this week that Australia had cashed in on theatrical appealing and fanatical hometown support that swayed umpires when making decisions.

"That's laughable. A losing side will always feel the 50-50 decisions go against them and Bob is simply making excuses," Warne said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand cricket umpire Billy Bowden on Wednesday denied he and his colleagues were intimidated by the Australian players in the recent Test and one-day series involving Pakistan.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer this week said the Australians won close calls 29-5 in matches against his team, accusing the Australians of vociferous appeals designed to pressure umpires into ruling their way.

Bowden said he was happy with his performances in Australia, where the home team completed a whitewash in the two-Test series against Pakistan and comfortably won the triangular one-day series which also involved the West Indies.

"Bob's entitled to his opinion, but from my point of view I had a brilliant series in the Tests and the one-dayers," Bowden said. "I don't care if one guy or 11 guys appeal, it doesn't worry me, and neither does the crowd because I've made my decision before they get excited," Bowden said.

Australian coach John Buchanan has described Woolmer's comments as offensive to umpires.-Agencies