Shane Warne Chose Cigarettes Over Underwear, Socks During Training Camp: Michael Clarke

Australia legend Shane Warne is controversy’s favourite child. His illustrious career was marred by a number of controversies. In fact, it would not be at all wrong to say that Shane Warne is one of the most popular and scandalous cricketers of this generation.

From leaking information to a bookie, to lying about having quit smoking, from altercations on the field to numerous sex scandals, Shane Warne made it to the news for all the wrong reasons more often than not. And his former Australia teammate Michael Clarke has now revealed an interesting story that once again shows controversy and the ex-leg-spinner went hand-in-hand.

Clarke described Shane Warne’s love for smoking and revealed shocking details of the leg-spin legend’s behaviour during their training camp in the Australian outback before the Ashes series against England in 2006.

The former Australia skipper revealed how the Australian players were allowed to take just basic essentials like t-shirts, pants, socks, underwear, joggers and a cap but Warne chose to let go of all that for cigarettes on the 3-day training camp in the outback.

“For someone like Warnie who loved a smoke, he pretty much told them he is not coming unless he can bring his smokes. It was World War five,” Clarke said on Big Sports Breakfast.

Then-Australia coach John Buchanan gave Warne a choice that for each packet of cigarette he took with him, he would have to leave another item behind. And to everyone’s surprise, Shane Warne had no problem at all as he gave up his underwear and socks in favour of 6 packets of cigarettes.

“Warnie flicked his three pairs of undies, flicked his three pairs of socks and put six packs of darts in and off we went.

“In the middle of the bush, sleeping bag only, no cover, no shelter, on the ground and it was pitch black. All you could see was this orange light coming out of someone’s sleeping bag and it was Warnie just sucking his dart back,” revealed Clarke.

But as usual, Shane Warne went on to star on the field. Australia’s all-time highest wicket-taker bagged 23 wickets to finish as the 2nd highest wicket-taker behind Stuart Clarke in the Ashes, helping Australia win the series 5-0.

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