England gagged over Shane Warne row after criticism of captain Alastair Cook

By SAM PETERS

Published: 17:45 EST, 28 June 2014 | Updated: 10:38 EST, 30 June 2014

England’s players have been told they face being fined if they engage in a  war of words with Sky commentator Shane Warne as senior ECB officials fear upsetting their biggest commercial partner.

Warne, a close ally of outcast Kevin Pietersen, has used his position as a Sky pundit to repeatedly attack Alastair Cook’s captaincy style and criticise what he believes is a negative mindset in the England dressing room.

Take a break: Shane Warne has called on Alastair Cook to relinquish the captaincy or take some time away

Struggling: Cook underperformed as England were beaten by Sri Lanka in the second Test

Senior England players have been angered by his ‘personal’ attacks on Cook and are willing to be far more outspoken in their condemnation of Warne — but have been gagged.

The ECB signed a new four-year deal with Sky in 2012, worth in the region of £260million.

Cook said ahead of the second Test that ‘something needs to be done’ about Warne but ECB chiefs are keen to avoid further spats.

Time out: Warne (right) has been very critical of Cook's captaincy