Warne confirms split with partner

Australian spin bowler Shane Warne Monday confirmed he had split from his ex-wife, amid reports of an alleged “affair” with British actress Liz Hurley.

Warne and his former wife Simone Callahan, who have three children together, divorced some time ago but had rekindled their romance and shared a home together in his home town of Melbourne.

But after video and photographs of Warne and Hurley apparently kissing and cuddling together in London last week were published, the 41-year-old was forced to issue a statement on his relationship.

“Sadly and unfortunately, Simone and I split up a while ago, our close friends and family were informed at that time,” Warne said in a statement on his website.

“It is a private matter so we did not make it public. We remain friends and will continue to be good parents.” Warne’s comments follow those of Hurley, who announced via microblogging site Twitter on Sunday than she had recently split with her Indian businessman husband of three years Arun Nayar. “For the record, my husband Arun and I separated a few months ago,” she said.

Warne reportedly met Hurley at an English race meeting in July and last month he announced he would interview her on his new Australian television chat show, called Warnie, which coincides with the Ashes series.

AFP