BRISBANE: Shane Warne was in damage control on Thursday after Australia coach Darren Lehmann threatened to confront him after the spin great blasted fast bowler Mitchell Starc as “soft”.

During a commentary stint during the second Test in Brisbane on Wedn­e­sday, Warne dema­n­ded more aggression from an Australian team wilting in blistering heat during the second Test against India, singling out Starc.

“He has to change his body language, it needs to be stronger — he looks a bit soft,” Warne said on Channel Nine.“He needs to puff his chest out a bit, look harder.”

Lehmann was not impressed when later told of the comment.

“Soft? He used those words?” he said.

“That’s very harsh. I will take it up with Shane myself.”

Warne backtracked Thu­r­s­day, saying: “I never at any stage called Mitchell Starc soft.

“What I did do was say his body language and his presence gave the appearance of being nonchalant and he needed to improve on his body language, it all was a bit nice and soft and easy, not him.

“I stand by what I said because I agree with it.”

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2014