Warne slams inclusion of Jones

Shane Warne has hit out at England's decision to recall Geraint Jones behind the stumps in place of Chris Read, and believes that Australia will be handed a huge advantage if Ashley Giles is also named in the side that takes the field at Brisbane on Thursday at the expense of the up-and-coming Monty Panesar.

Speaking to the media after a training session at Brisbane Grammar School, Warne accused England of negativity in their thinking, and warned that - in conjunction with the loss of their specialist first slip, Marcus Trescothick - the ploy could backfire on Australia's bouncy pitches, where edges fly hard and fast and the need for a specialist gloveman is all the greater.

"It's surprising that they'd go back to [Jones]," said Warne. "He'll be under enormous pressure. I think it's a known fact - and it's not me sledging him - that Jones is in the side more for his batting than his keeping. His keeping is steady at best and we saw him drop some crucial catches [in the last series]. You don't want to be dropping Ricky Ponting when he's on half-a-dozen in the first Test of the series, especially when you've just been brought back into the side."

Though Jones clung onto the one chance that really mattered, on that final morning at Edgbaston, he missed seven chances in all in 2005, and has been sketchy so far this tour. He reprieved Phil Jaques at Canberra, who went on to make a century, and also has fluffed two stumping catches, including one against Michael Clarke in the match against New South Wales.

And without the soothing presence of Trescothick at first slip - a man who has learned to ignore Jones' off-putting habit of launching himself at chances that are out of his reach - Warne predicted more problems for England behind the wicket. "It takes a while to get used to a new keeper," he said. "When we had [Ian] Healy, myself and Mark Waugh [in the cordon] we knew exactly whose catch was whose. Trescothick's a good catcher, and he'll be missed."

Warne was in no doubt about who was behind the reversal of policy in the England camp. "Duncan Fletcher has definitely got a few favourites," he added. "I think that's well-known between everybody. That's why some blokes keep coming back into the side, because they are favourites. But in Australia you need your best keeper because the ball does bounce and carry, and so I'd be very happy to see England go back to Jones and Giles."

As a man who revived the art of spin bowling, in conjunction with the matchless glovework of first Healy and then Adam Gilchrist, Warne was passionate on the subject. "They think they are just trying to strengthen their batting and their tail, but actually what they are doing is losing two of the finest arts in the game, in keeping and spin bowling. England have got two guys that can do that exceptionally well, but they want them to go to bring in handy lower-order batters. That's what the top six are there for. You need 20 wickets to win a Test.

"Giles is a very good cricketer and a lovely guy," said Warne, damning the man with faint praise. "But they've got an exciting spin bowler in Panesar, as we saw this summer. Don't mess around with him, just let him play, enjoy the conditions, keep learning and bowl. He needs to enjoy the challenges that lie ahead. I think it's a backwards decision to go back to Jones and Giles, and a good sign for us."

So far on this tour, Panesar has not set the world alight. He was arguably out-bowled by Giles at Sydney, and then picked up just two wickets in two innings in the recent match at Adelaide. Warne, though, was sympathetic. "He'll be getting used to bowling with a Kookaburra ball instead of a Duke, and he's probably very nervous as well - anxious to see whether he's playing or not. He knows the wicket is going to spin and so he's probably trying a bit hard. But I'd be very surprised if they don't play him."

Warne, however, was under no illusions about England's prospects in the series. "They'll be tough to beat, and anyone who thinks it's going to be a walkover doesn't know much about the game," he said. "They are stronger now than they were when we played them last time. But at the end of the day everyone's done enough talking and answering the same questions. We're just looking forward to getting out there and playing, and playing well."