Cheers! Drink sorrows away, Shane Warne tells struggling Aussies

Former cricketer Shane Warne has a  tipsy solution - quite literally - to the current problems plaguing the Australian national team:  shut the doors and bring on the booze!

Warne, writing in UK's Daily Telegraph, says the fragile and fragmented team chemistry in the current Australian team can be repaired with music and alcohol rather than through stricter means.

"As a leader I always thought if the boys weren't getting along or we weren't performing then the best thing to do was to lock everyone into a room with some music (and) alcohol. (Then) everyone have their say to each other . . ."

Currently 2-0 down against India in the sub-continent, the Australian team's problems have not been restricted to on-field agonies alone. Coach Mickey Arthur has said that there is 'back-talk' and an attitude problem within the side. This after four players including vice-captain Shane Watson were axed because they failed to submit an assessment report to Arthur.

Warne though has not been enthusiastic about the nature of punishment meted out and says that 'old school ways can still work well.'

Australia need to salvage some pride - with or without the services of the axed players - and get the momentum back ahead of the Ashes series against England. Warne has a rather idealistically optimistic approach to the much-awaited series.

"If they (Australia) get their selection right, get the players on the field and stay injury-free and they (England) lose a couple of their strike players suddenly it gets a little bit interesting," wrote Warne

Warne has proposed his squad that he feels can help Australia reclaim the Ashes. The spin king had named a Test squad of 18 in February in his four-part manifesto on Australian cricket. But now he's axed Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Ryan Harris to suggest a 15-man short-list.

Warne has made five or six changes to the squad that is currently in India. Shane Watson, suspended this week for disobeying team orders, would be "mature enough to return to the fold", wrote Warne.

In Warne's scheme of things, Watson would open alongside David Warner with Shaun Marsh at number three for the first Ashes Test in July. In-form quick James Pattinson, also suspended, retains a place in Warne's squad.