Warne says he gets along fine with MacGill

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, the world's most successful slow bowler, said on Tuesday there was no rift between himself and fellow leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.

Both have been named in Australia's squad of 12 for Friday's first test against South Africa and since then have been fending off questions about their perceived lack of on-field chemistry.

"There's never been a rift between myself and Stuey," Warne said.

"I don't know where that has come from, I've got no idea."

MacGill, 30, has often been the back-up to Warne, playing mainly in tests when the Victorian leg-spinner was injured.

Last year, MacGill took advantage of Warne's absence due to a finger injury to take 16 wickets in four tests against West Indies in Australia.

However MacGill, who has had several run-ins with authorities over his on-field behaviour, has not played a test since despite an excellent record of 75 wickets at 25.02 in 16 matches. Warne, 32, is fifth on the list of all-time wicket takers in test cricket with 413.

While MacGill has the better record in the five test they've played together (24 wickets to Warne's seven) MacGill said wickets were often created by the bowler at the other end and described Warne as the best spinner of all time.

"The test matches we played together, my first few back were straight after my major shoulder operation so I probably wasn't anywhere near my best and Stuey played well in a few games," Warne said.

"So I'd like to think it could work, whether it works this test match, the next one or whenever."

Warne also said if Australia played to their best there was no reason why they couldn't beat South Africa three-nil.

"The mental side, we've definitely got that over South Africa," he said.

"There's been a lot of talk that South Africa can beat us this series but I think that if we play to the best that we have been playing, then I think there's no reason we can't win three-nil."

Mail Cricket Editor