Bitter Pill Of 2003 Has Warne Weighing Up A Cup Comeback

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday January 10, 2006

Alex Brown

SHANE Warne's camp has targeted next summer's one-day series against England and New Zealand for the leg spinner's pre-World Cup comeback to one-day internationals - but only if Australia have failed to uncover a full-time spinning option beforehand.

According to Warne's agent and brother, Jason, the world's most prolific Test bowler might be coaxed out of retirement from limited-overs internationals after the Ashes if he felt the Australians were shy of quality spinners.

But Jason Warne all but ruled out the possibility of his brother making a timely - and lucrative - comeback for the Champions Trophy later this year, passing up the opportunity to shore up his post-divorce finances by undertaking the kind of high-paying promotional work generally on offer in cricket-mad India.

As Ricky Ponting has previously suggested, Jason Warne hinted that the bitter memories of the 2003 World Cup could prove a motivating factor for Warne, who was sent home from South Africa on the morning of Australia's first match after testing positive to a banned diuretic.

Warne announced he would retire from one-day internationals after the tournament to prolong his Test career. He has since remained in self-imposed exile from limited-overs internationals, save for his appearance for the ICC World XI in last year's tsunami charity match at the MCG, which was controversially granted official status. He has played 194 one-day internationals, claiming 293 wickets.

"As we get closer to the World Cup, who's to say what will happen?" Jason Warne said. "The last one didn't finish the way he wanted. If no one has cemented a spot, if they haven't found a regular spinner, that might change his mind about coming out of retirement. I don't think he would need to do it anytime before the home triangular series next summer. That would be enough time to show the selectors that he has still got it.

"I don't think he'll make himself available for the Champions Trophy. The idea to retire from one-day internationals was to lengthen his Test career. He has kept his finger in the pie by bowling in one-dayers for Victoria and Hampshire. Shane's main focus at this stage is Test cricket and getting himself right for the Ashes, then the focus might shift to the World Cup after that."

When asked whether next summer's one-day series might come too late for Warne to be considered for the World Cup, Australia's chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns, was cautious. "Not necessarily, but a lot of it would have to depend on when we have to have our nominations into the ICC," Hohns said. "We at least have to know what his intentions are going to be before then."

Hohns revealed he had discussed the prospect of a one-day international return with Warne, although only on a "general basis on various occasions". During the Perth Test, Warne cast doubt on the likelihood of making a return to the Australian one-day team, although it must be said he does have a track record of changing his mind.

After Australia's Ashes defeat last year, for instance, Warne told reporters at The Oval that he was contemplating retirement. Since then, he has floated the possibility of playing through until the 2009 Ashes series in England.

"There hasn't even been anything specific discussed," Hohns added. "If he was going to make himself available, we would prefer him to do it sooner rather than later."

The advent of the super-sub rule in one-day cricket certainly works in Warne's favour if he is considering an international comeback. Having publicly stated his 36-year-old frame was no longer suited to the playing and training demands of excessive one-day cricket, particularly in the field, Warne would be able to be substituted after his spell under rules being used throughout this summer's one-day series.

"I would say he is still 50-50 about a comeback," Jason Warne said. "But until we get closer to the time, it's hard to say. All I know is that Shane wouldn't come out of retirement if he was going to put someone out of a job."

Not all are so certain Warne will return. Bruce Reid, the bowling coach of the Hampshire side Warne captains, was confident his leg spinner would remain in one-day international retirement.

"He has decided to give the game away, he has given his [playing] number away," Reid said. "I spoke to him during the Perth Test and he didn't mention anything about it. He is seeking to prolong his Test career. My gut feeling is that he will stay retired."

Warne's long-time mentor Terry Jenner was similarly sceptical of a Warne comeback to limited-overs internationals. "If he was going to come back, it would have to be about now - a year out from the World Cup - so as not to disrupt the team," Jenner said from England. "He hasn't said anything to me. All I know is that he gave up the one-day stuff for longevity in his Test career, and you would have to say his Test career has shown the benefit of that.

"I assume he has a lot on his mind at the moment, and maybe he's just keeping his options open. I'm more keen on seeing him take his 700th Test wicket at the Adelaide Oval next summer." Test spinner Stuart MacGill returns to the NSW team for the one-day match against Victoria at Coffs Harbour on Saturday and for the Pura Cup match against the same opponents in Lismore two days later, AAP reports.

Matthew Phelps and Grant Lambert also come into the one-day squad of 13 players, replacing Simon Katich and Michael Clarke, who are in the Australian one-day team. It would be Lambert's first one-day appearance this season.

Craig Simmons is in line to play his first Pura Cup match for NSW, having previously played one match for WA in 2003-04.

NSW squad - Page 26

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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