'I am done with this guy' - Indian fans slam Shane Warne for his comments on T Natarajan

Australia’s legendary spinner Shane Warne initiated an uproar on Twitter after Day 4 of the ongoing last Test between India and Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane with his comments regarding the no-balls bowled by T Natarajan in his debut Test match. Warne indirectly took a dig at the left-arm pacer and hinted that something is fishy with his comments

Natarajan is living a beautiful dream by becoming the first Indian cricketer to debut across all three formats of the game during the same series. The Tamil Nadu-pacer is highly benefited by the truckload of injuries sustained by the Indian pacers during the long Australia tour of two months.

Natarajan had announced himself on the big stage during the last ODI of the three-match series against Australia, which the visitors lost by 2-1. The seamer had caught the attention of the who’s who of the cricket fraternity by picking two priced wickets on his debut while bowling at an economy of 7.

This was followed by Natarajan playing all the three T20I Internationals and picking 6 wickets in three games at an economy rate of 6.92 and a strike rate of just 12.00. With India’s main pacers injured, the seamer got a chance to represent India in the fourth Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Shane Warne takes an indirect dig at T Natarajan

Natarajan picked up three wickets in the first innings of the fourth Test, including the important ones of Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade. However, the purest format of the game highlighted one drawback of Natarajan’s bowling and that is his ability of constantly bowling the no-balls. In the fourth Test, the left-arm pacer bowled as many as 7 no-balls.

Debutant Natarajan bowled six no-balls in the first innings of the hosts and the speed merchant also had one invalid delivery on Day 4 of the ongoing 4th Test at The Gabba. All five of the deliveries had come from the first ball of his overs.

Taking a look at Natarajan’s no-balls, Australia’s veteran Shane Warne opined that bowling five big no-balls seems odd to him too with the first ball. The spinner also termed the whole episode as ‘interesting’.

“Something that’s caught my eye when Natarajan was bowling. He’s bowled 7 no-balls & they’ve all been big ones. 5 of them have been off the first ball & they’re miles over. We’ve all bowled no-balls, but 5 of them off the 1st ball of an over is interesting,” Warne told viewers when he was on air for match commentary.

This indirect dig at T Natarajan by Shane Warne didn’t go well with many Indian cricket fans as they slammed the veteran for making a mountain out of a molehill and criticizing the debutant pacer.

Here’s how Twitter reacted

So Shane Warne is accusing Natarajan of spot fixing because of his no-balls. I am done with guy and his shit. Throw him out of the comm box right now. Unbelievable this guy! #AUSvIND

— Kanav Bali🏏 (@Concussion_Sub) January 18, 2021

Shockingly ironic that Shane Warne and Mark Waugh are indirectly implying Natarajan's no-balls could be an attempt at spot fixing. Although to be fair, they both know a lot about fixing. How does he still have a job, the man's a moron #AUSvsIND #bookies

— Parth Shah (@parth_footy) January 18, 2021

Hello Warne! Go talk to your Sand Paper team mates first! Dare ever again to talk false information about Natarajan#AUSvIND

— Manohar (@NanbanElaiya) January 18, 2021

Why should Shane Warne even insinuate about spot fixing ? Natarajan is a debutant, some wrong balls are very common . Disgraceful from Warne.#AUSvsIND #INDvsAUS #GabbaTest

— Cricket Commentary🏏 (@CricketCraze12) January 18, 2021

Pretty poor of Warne to indicate that Natarajan was doing "spot fixing" by bowling those no balls. I hope BCCI takes this up seriously.

— Biswarup Ghatak (@BishOnTheRockz) January 18, 2021

The commentary said nothing about Smith and the batting guard but Warne comments on Natarajan bowling no balls and says he is match fixing! Natarajan has been a net bowler for a while and is making his test debut.

— Joshan Basi (@BasiJoshan) January 18, 2021

@BoriaMajumdar @vikrantgupta73
Aussies are at it again. Shane Warne has accused Natarajan of spot fixing after bowling no balls. Warnie speaking about fixing is hypocricy of the nth order

— RP (@rajprem1) January 18, 2021

@BCCI @SunRisers @SGanguly99 @VVSLaxman281 @JayShah
Shane Warne has accused T.Natarajan of spot fixing. I hope one of you gives a befitting response to that guy

— RP (@rajprem1) January 18, 2021

In the space of 30 minutes, Warne has accused Natarajan of match-fixing and Puckovski of voluntarily opting out of test matches #AUSvIND

— Ishan Deshpande (@__ishan2000) January 18, 2021

Can somebody please tell me what Warne is exactly saying about Natarajan and spot fixing? #AUSvIND

— Kanav Bali🏏 (@Concussion_Sub) January 18, 2021

Just turned the comm on . Warne & Mark Waugh literally saying that Natarajan trying to do spot fixing. Hopefully BCCI takes this up with Fox as well as CA .

— SR3 (@sriniramadurai) January 18, 2021