Chris Adams says he has lost respect for Shane Warne after accusing the Australian of trying to humiliate his players.

The Sussex skipper criticised his opposite number after the Championship game at Hove ended in a thrilling draw on Saturday with Hampshire 267-8 as they chased 285 to win. Umpire Ian Gould said the game was played with Test match intensity at times but Adams believes Warne over-stepped the mark, particularly in his treatment of England hopeful Matt Prior, whom he dismissed in both innings.

Adams said: "Playing hard on the field is fine by me but to try to publicly humiliate young players in the opposition is disappointing.

"Matt Prior came in for quite a lot of verbal abuse. I've told Matt that it is because he is seen as a threat, it's a back-handed compliment in a way.

"Because of what he has done in the game Shane Warne will always be considered a great. Off the field he was outstanding and the first person to congratulate us and say what a great game it was, but I have lost a lot of respect for him because of the way he behaved in this match.

"I've played for 18 years with and against some of the greatest players in the world - legends like Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner and Steve Waugh. Not one of those guys ever felt the need to disrespect people or disrespect the game."

Sussex looked like losing for the first time this season when Kevin Pietersen and Shaun Ervine put on 113 in 19 overs for Hampshire's sixth wicket on Saturday.

Pietersen hit five fours and three sixes in 61 off 51 balls but Murray Goodwin took a sensational running catch on the square leg boundary to provide yet another twist after four compelling days.

Ervine, who only just survived a hat-trick ball from James Kirtley, made 57 before becoming Mushtaq Ahmed's third victim. When he was eighth out Hampshire needed 29 off the last five overs but fell short.

Adams added: "It was one of the most exciting finishes I've been involved in. We came out feeling like winners and Hampshire may have felt they have lost the game."

Overseas signing Johan van der Wath, who arrives at Hove tomorrow, will make his debut in Wednesday's Championship game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.