Shane Warne to make shock Baggy Green return?
May 19th 2008 23:44
JUST 16 months after retiring from Test cricket, Shane Warne has dramatically opened the door for a comeback.
Australia's greatest leg-spinner said that if circumstances were right, he would consider returning against arch-enemy England in next year's Ashes series.
Australia's greatest leg-spinner said that if circumstances were right, he would consider returning against arch-enemy England in next year's Ashes series.
Warne was given a fairytale send off – and one wondered who was writing his scripts when the King of Spin played his last ever test match series. The Aussies got the first cleansweep in the Ashes since the 1920s and Warne took wicket number 700 by bowling an opening batsmen through the gate. It was pure poetry.
He also looked set to score the hundred his batting prowess always promised only to fall again agonizingly short.
So is Warne serious about a comeback?
No doubt he has the skill – he is dominating the IPL Twenty20 competition – a spinner dominating a batting friendly game.
But should he come back? If we want to retain the Ashes we might just need him too…
"If Australia really needed me and there was no one else around, and Ricky thought I could do the job, you would weigh up the options," said Warne, who will turn 40 just after the fifth Ashes Test.
Warne has worked miracles leading the Rajasthan Royals to the top of the Indian Premier League table, mesmerising batsmen with the leg-spin that collected 708 wickets in 145 Tests
If Stuart MacGill is injured we have no spinners. No-one at Test standard, and Kevin Pieterson would eat them alive. With Warne- who took over 40 wickets last time in England almost single-handedly got us out of that series (That shall never be mentioned) we have a fighting chance.
He also had the 3rd highest batting average just for good measure…
"If Stuey MacGill fell over and broke his leg, and there were no other spinners around, and Ricky came out and said, 'Mate, can you please help us out for this one-off tour? We need you', that is something I would weigh up," the 38-year-old said.
Earlier, the Australia skipper praised Warne's performance in the Indian Premier League, where he has taken 14 wickets at 18.78 runs.
Ponting said while Warne was bowling as well as ever, he doubted the leg-spin king was interested in a comeback.
But Warne told the Herald Sun he would return if called upon by his country.
"If I wanted to keep playing I don't think there would be an issue with me being the No.1 spinner and performing," he said.
"I would still love to be playing international cricket, and miss it because I devoted 20 years to first-class cricket. It is a big part of my life," he said.
Earlier, the Australia skipper praised Warne's performance in the Indian Premier League, where he has taken 14 wickets at 18.78 runs.
Ponting said while Warne was bowling as well as ever, he doubted the leg-spin king was interested in a comeback.
But Warne told the Herald Sun he would return if called upon by his country.
"If I wanted to keep playing I don't think there would be an issue with me being the No.1 spinner and performing," he said.
"I would still love to be playing international cricket, and miss it because I devoted 20 years to first-class cricket. It is a big part of my life," he said.
The 700 man - What a moment in time
Will Warne return for one last tilt at Lords and immortality? Or is this another publicity stunt? It seems Warne cannot avoid a headline for very long, whether you like him or hate him, there is always something happening...
Who knows, but I think the circus is about to roll into town
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