Warne says selectors must starting looking to the future

Brisbane (Australia), Nov.23 (ANI): Fearing another mass exodus of senior players in the coming years, leg-spinning great Shane Warne has urged the national selection committee to avoid becoming too comfortable with up-and-down results in a period of transition, and to plan for the future on a priority basis.

Warne said the selectors should look to revitalising the side with young blood before it was too late.

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Three series losses - to England, South Africa and India - in the past 13 months has seen Ricky Ponting's team drop from No.1 on the Test rankings to No.4.

"You have to say the Australian side has been in a transition phase, but there has to be a line that when does that transition phase stop?" he said.

"I wouldn't say Australia is the fourth best side in the world, but the way the side has played of recent times you are going to have to be patient, Fox Sports quoted him, as saying.

"But there comes a time when you say okay, are these guys in the side going to see us through in the long term or is there an opportunity to get some new blood in the side?"

Warne identified the likes of opener Phillip Hughes, leg-spinning all-rounder Steven Smith and all-rounder Moises Henriques as youngsters who should be introduced to the side sooner rather than later.

He urged the selectors to learn from recent history when he was among four players - including Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn - who retired during or after the 2006-07 Ashes success.

"Pick them (youngsters) at the right time. What we don't want is to lose four or five of us like we lost (after the 2006-07 Ashes) once again. We don't want to lose a couple of them," he said. (ANI)