Shane Warne has dismissed Mark Greatbatch as "a pretty negative sort of person" after Warwickshire declined Hampshire's offer of a run chase on the final day of their championship game.

Warne claims that he offered Warwickshire a target of "260 off 65" overs at the end of the third day. At that time, however, Hampshire were 37 for one in their second innings, still 56 behind. Warwickshire reasoned, understandably enough, that they could win the game without recourse to declaration bowling, however, and declined Warne's offer. Had Jonathan Trott held on to a chance offered by John Crawley before lunch on the final day, Warwickshire may well have won.

There is some dispute between the figures offered for a declaration. Immediately after the game Warwickshire's captain Darren Maddy said "They offered us a target of 260 in 50 overs," while Warne is claiming the figure was "260 off 65"; a remarkably generous declaration if true.

Warne said: "We've been horribly unlucky with the weather in the championship - if we had an extra day at Edgbaston we'd have probably beaten Warwickshire - but I thought 260 off 65 was pretty kind.

"They thought they could bowl us out but I didn't think they could if we played half-decent. Teams should win nine times out of ten chasing 260 off 65 overs with a kiddies' boundary and with the wicket playing well so I was surprised they didn't take it.

"But Mark Greatbatch is their coach so what do you expect? Darren Maddy probably wanted to do it but Mark Greatbatch is a pretty negative sort of person."

In truth, however, it was not Greatbatch's decision alone. The captain is certainly not the type to allow his own views to be ignored and felt that Warne's offer "tipped the momentum of the game."

Maddy said at the time: "I'm all for playing positive cricket, but that didn't seem quite right. It would have tipped the momentum of the game and, at the end of the day, I thought we could bowl them out. Had that catch been held then we might well have done."

Warne's comments are perhaps a sign that he is beginning to feel the pressure after a mediocre start to the season both personally and from his team. Hampshire are sixth in the Division One table, with only one win in their first five games, while Warne's bowling average is in the mid-30s.

Besides, if he were really interested in setting up a declaration, Warne could have asked his batsmen to score with a little more urgency. Crawley's 73 lasted over four hours, while Michael Carberry's first innings 52 occupied more than four-and-a-half.

Warne would be wise to get his own house in order before criticising rivals who refuse to bail him out whenever he feels it's necessary. It is not, after all, their job to help Hampshire.