Spin wizard Warne still got the magic: report
Spin king Shane Warne has still ``got it" according to an awestruck
teammate who faced him in a nets session ahead of his return to
competitive cricket, a report said Thursday.
Warne, 42, ended his stellar playing career at the Indian Premier
League in May, but announced a return to the game for the Melbourne
Stars in Australia's Big Bash Twenty20 tournament, which starts on
December 16.
Despite months out of the game, Melbourne teammate Alex Keath said
the legendary leg-spinner could still impart his trademark flippers and
wrong `uns with deadly accuracy.
Accurate
"He was still very accurate and he's certainly still got it," The
Melbourne Age quoted batsman Keath as saying.
"The control is just on a whole different level; to rip the ball that
hard and land them in the right areas, not many bowlers even come close.
He is on a different planet in terms of his control and his variations
as well." Rated one of five cricketers of the 20th century by Wisden,
Warne took 708 Test wickets in a colourful career as notable for his
controversies and romances - including with actress Liz Hurley - as his
spin exploits.
Franchise
The Australian, who quit one-day cricket in 2005 and Tests two years
later, spent four seasons with IPL franchise the Rajasthan Royals and
retired after helping them this year to six wins from 14 games.
Confirming his comeback for the Melbourne team in November, Warne said
he still had confidence in his abilities.
``I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I could be pulling my
weight, being able to go out there and change the course of a game,"
Warne told reporters.
"It has got nothing to do with money. If it was something to do with
money, I would be still playing in the IPL."
Fiancee
He said part of his desire to return was that he wanted his three
children to be able to see him at work and it was an ``added bonus" his
fiancee Hurley would be there too. Several overseas players have signed
up with the eight franchises that will contest the Big Bash, including
South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs, Paul Collingwood of England, and
Pakistan's Shahid Afridi. AFP
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