Sydney: Former Australia Test captain Steve Waugh says cricketer David Warner`s comments about England batsman Jonathan Trott were "out of order" and had crossed the line.
Trott made a shock departure from the Ashes tour earlier this week after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed that he was suffering from a stress-related illness.
Australia`s Warner has attracted criticism for comments he made during the first Brisbane Test in which he described Trott as "poor and weak".
Trott had a difficult time playing tearaway Australia speedster Mitchell Johnson and was dismissed for 10 and nine in the first Test.
Waugh, who was regarded as a hard-bitten and competitive Test captain, was critical of Warner`s comments made at a post-stumps media conference during the Brisbane Test, which Australia won by 381 runs.
"I think Dave Warner`s comments were out of order. I don`t believe you should comment on someone else personally on the opposition," Waugh said on the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust website.
"He can make a generic comment, but I think when you get personal like that, you cross the line on how players treat each other, and the respect they should have.
"So I didn`t agree with Dave`s comments, having said that, he probably did smell a bit of fear in the England opposition players.
"Unfortunately for Jonathan Trott, it was a personal issue, and you don`t want to keep going on about that.
"You just want him to get better and get well. So I think that hopefully has been put behind in that last Test match, and won`t be brought up again."
Waugh added that Australia probably needed to be a little cleverer in how they went about things.
"They`re playing well, so they don`t need to do so much talking out there now," he said.
The Ashes series resumes in the second Test, beginning in Adelaide next Thursday.
AFP
First Published: Friday, November 29, 2013, 10:12
