Australian cricketer Shane Warne proves that when it comes to celebrities and sportspeople, sometimes it is better to stick to what you do best.
Shane Warne has come out in opposition to the Iraq war and the Howard Government.Warne criticised Prime Minister John Howard, saying he won last month’s federal poll only because the competition was not tough enough.
Cricket’s leading Test wicket-taker, Warne said he did not like the Government’s policies, including support for the war in Iraq.He wants former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett to run for prime minister.“Unfortunately, the only reason I think John Howard got re-elected was because there was no strong competition,” Warne told Inside Cricket magazine.“If Jeff Kennett was still around, I think he would have made an excellent PM. I don’t like what John Howard and the rest are doing.”
It is obvious that Warne has thoroughly considered all of the issues and arrived at a well-informed opinion:
When asked whether he just opposed the Iraq war, Warne said: “Everything. We are lucky to live in a great country like Australia. I know John Howard loves his cricket, but I just don’t agree with the stuff that is going on. I just wish that Jeff Kennett would come out and run for PM.”
Ok, maybe not. It is more likely that Warne is just harboring a grudge against PM Howard:
Mr Howard has praised the cricketer in the past.But last year, when Warne was suspended for diuretic drug use, Mr Howard said he should not train with the Australian side.
Even Jeff Kennett, whom Warne has endorsed for Prime Minister, cannot bring himself to respect Warne’s attempts at “punditry” :
“I’m flattered by his (Warne’s) comments,” Mr Kennett said. “I respect him very much for his cricketing ability.“Each of us has a role to play in life. Shane Warne is a cricketer. John Howard is Prime Minister. Jeff Kennett was a premier.”
Read: Stick to cricket, Shane!
And then there are those who are a little more direct in coming out and saying the obvious:
Peter Young, of Cricket Australia, said the organisation generally advised cricketers to “stick to their knitting”
