Australian spin legend Shane Warne has slammed England's attitude in the third Ashes Test as being 'arrogant and dismissive' and has also accused their wicketkeeper Matt Prior of being 'smug'.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, although England retained the urn on Monday when the Old Trafford Test, which it was on course to lose, was washed out by rain, captain Alastair Cook's men came in for criticism for alleged time-wasting.
Wondering whether coach Andy Flower had instructed his players to act in an 'arrogant and dismissive' manner, Warne said that he was taken aback by the way the England players were interviewing and behaving in press conferences and after-match interviews, although he admitted that it is their choice how they act on and off the field.
Even though he touted England as a 'very good' cricket team, Warne however, said that there were moments during the Old Trafford Test when he was shocked and annoyed at the behaviour of the host players, especially Prior and spinner Graeme Swann.
According to Warne, Prior was very smug in his comments, although he added that it might have been a conscious effort or direction from Andy Flower to be arrogant and dismissive of the opposition.
Also slamming Swann for showing what he perceived as over-confidence during an interview after day two at the third Test, Warne warned the players that cricket has a 'funny way of biting on the backside' if they lose respect for the game and the opposition.