Shane Warne to make Ashes return?

Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne said that he could make a return to Test Cricket during the Ashes. He said that he was bowling as well as at any time since retiring from Test cricket in 2007. Warne, 43, said he had “absolutely no doubt” he could bowl successfully at Test level again.

The Victorian leggie said that he was Happily retired but if the call came from his best mate Michael Clarke, he’d surely rethink.

“If your best friend says, ‘Mate, I want you to seriously consider making a commitment to Australian cricket and coming back out of retirement’, (to) make myself available for selection, that’s a different scenario,” Warne said.

“You asked me if I think I could still play international cricket if I wanted to just turn up, do my bowling and if the first Test match was in three weeks, do you think I could play, (then) I’d have no hesitation in saying yes – and I think I’d do pretty well. From a purely bowling perspective, I don’t think my form would be the concern, it’s just the time and actually making that commitment again.” – Warne added.

“My kids are turning 16, 14 and 12 next year and we’re juggling two continents, (wife-to-be) Elizabeth’s (Hurley) work and my work commitments. There’s travel, sponsors, businesses, there are charities, so much stuff that I’d basically have to put it all on hold to make a commitment to international cricket. That’s the reason I haven’t for a while said I’m gonna make a comeback.”

Warne, who has taken 195 Ashes wickets in 36 Tests at a staggering 23.25, said he felt the urge during the third Test against South Africa in Perth watching the Australian bowling attack hammered around the WACA Ground.

“I felt like I wanted to jump off the couch and grab the ball,” he said. “I really felt for Michael Clarke from a captaincy point of view. When you’ve got international bowlers bowling one or two full-tosses an over and half-volleys, I felt for Pup, I really felt for him.”

Warne was however, delighted with his bowling at the MCG yesterday in the Stars’ second practice match in as many days.

“For me it’s not a matter of whether I could do it or not – I have absolutely no doubt if I wanted to commit to try to make a comeback and go through grade cricket, first-class cricket and try to get selected … that I could do it. The ball’s coming out pretty good and I’m looking forward to fizzing them on Friday,” he said.