Collingwood is a weak link: Warne

Melbourne:

Australian spin legend Shane Warne feels all-rounder Paul Collingwood is a weak link in the England team which will take on the hosts in the fourth Ashes Test starting on Boxing Day here.

According to Warne, England cannot afford to "carry" players after being defeated in the third Test in Perth.

"When a team is winning, you can carry a player or two, but unfortunately for Paul Collingwood, he's been short of runs for a while," Warne was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph.

"Since Perth, when Australia smashed the Poms, Collingwood is back in the spotlight for his lack of runs. He might get one more chance here in Melbourne but he needs to make some runs," he said.

Australia have been experimenting a lot with their spin department and Warne feels Nathan Hauritz deserves a recall to the Aussie Test team considering his form with bat and ball at state level.

"What has impressed me about Hauritz, he's gone back and taken wickets and made runs," Warne said.

"So I think it still stands that Hauritz deserves a chance for Melbourne and Sydney," he added.