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| Saturday, 21 February 2004 |
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Warne takes pop at 'sheepish' Ranatunga MELBOURNE, Australia, Friday (AFP) - Shane Warne is looking to spice up his long-awaited return to Test cricket by sledging over his one-year drug ban. The controversial Australian leg-spinner was recalled to his country's Test squad Friday for next month's Test series in Sri Lanka. The 34-year-old Warne, whose one-year drug suspension for using a banned diuretic expired 11 days ago, played the last of his 107 Tests against England in Perth in December 2002 before failing a dope test that earned him the suspension. "I hope so, I'd be disappointed if there wasn't," Warne said of the prospect of an outbreak of sledging to greet his return to big-time cricket. "That's part of the game I really enjoy, I'm sure there might be the odd word here or there which will make me enjoy it more, make me feel a part of it again and I'm sure I'll give as good as I get." Warne wasted no time firing off a verbal barb at former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who this week said his old side were not as fearful of Australia's all-time leading wicket-taker (491). "Arjuna, he's probably slotting himself around at 150 kilos at the moment, is he?" Warne said. "Swallowed a sheep or something like that. Arjuna, well look, he's a wonderful competitor ... it's always been fun and games against him." Warne believes there's a place for fellow leggie Stuart MacGill and himself in the Test team, but said while his selection was out of his control, he had the runs on the board to play in the first Test, in Galle starting March 8. "I think my batting against spin bowling, my catching in the slips and the way I bowl, my experience over there, I think I've got a role to play," he said. Warne will wait until arriving in Sri Lanka next Friday before discussing his one-day international future with captain Ricky Ponting. |
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