Leg-spin legend Warne, now working as a broadcast and newspaper cricket pundit, said in his column for Wednesday's edition of Britain's Daily Telegraph that England had taken an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the Ashes in spite, rather than because, of Cook's "way too cautious" captaincy.

But Cook, knowing Warne is a friend of Australia captain Michael Clarke, told Saturday's Telegraph: "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but everyone knows Shane Warne is heavily involved in Australia's camp.