Bracewell excuses are 'ridiculous' - Warne

Shane Warne has attacked John Bracewell on his return to the Australia team by saying he has "no idea" and some of the best excuses. Joining the squad last night, Warne quickly made his first impact of the Test series, which starts at Christchurch on Thursday, when he said Bracewell had made some "ridiculous" statements.

"I think the coach is pretty embarrassed about what he's been saying," Warne said at his pre-match media conference. "To be a player they must be feeling pretty nervous every time he comes to the press. If he's going to say some ridiculous stuff like he did last time it would be a bit ordinary. I couldn't believe some of that."

During the one-day series Bracewell accused Ricky Ponting of slowing the game when there was crowd trouble at Wellington, and at Auckland he said Brett Lee's beamers could force court action. When New Zealand toured Australia earlier in the season he questioned a late pitch-switch for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match at Brisbane, and believed Hawkeye was altered to suit the home team.

Warne said Bracewell's comments showed he "had no idea" and made the Australia players more motivated. "I've heard some excuses in my time but I think some of those ones he's been coming up with are the best I've ever heard," Warne said. "I'm not sure how the [New Zealand] players are getting along with John Bracewell, but I wouldn't be listening to him. I'd be listening to Stephen Fleming."

Warne, who holds the world record with 566 wickets, said New Zealand were captained well by Fleming. "I won't say well led by their coach," he said. "It's not going to be easy against them, they're a very good side."