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29 March 2024

Shane Warne to make Twenty20 comeback

(File)

Published
By AFP

Spin legend Shane Warne is in negotiations with several clubs to come out of retirement and make a comeback in Australia's Big Bash Twenty20 League, with Melbourne Stars seen as the favourite to lure him.

The 42-year-old apparently brought the curtain down on his stellar two-decade cricket career at the Indian Premier League in May. But Fairfax media said he would be unveiled as Melbourne's marquee signing next week.

Both the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age reported that a lucrative package was enough to see him join the fledgling eight-team tournament, which starts in December.

Warne, who is from Melbourne, has been in the city this week with his British actress fiancee Liz Hurley and has said he was keen for her to spend time in his home town.

The Melbourne Stars confirmed they were in negotiations with the player.

"We understand through Shane Warne's management that he is still considering offers from several teams, including the Melbourne Stars," Stars chief executive Clint Cooper said in a statement on Friday.

"We anticipate a decision as to which team Shane will play for after detailed consideration of all offers within the next week."

The leg-spinner is one of the greatest cricketers ever to play the game and claimed more than 1,000 wickets in his international career, which included 145 Tests and 194 one-day matches.

But Warne has not played top-flight cricket in Australia since helping the country to a 5-0 Ashes whitewash over England in January 2007.

His manager, James Erskine, indicated to the newspapers that Warne would be prepared to take a year off from his commentary duties with Channel Nine if he decided to play in the Big Bash.

But he also acknowledged the risks of making a comeback.

"He went out on the ultimate high in Australia, taking 700 wickets, winning the Ashes," said Erskine.

"He's as fit as he's ever been and he believes he is still one of the top spin bowlers in the world. But he is 42 and realises if he plays there is a certain amount of hype and media attention that comes with that.

"One of the advantages would be that his kids are now old enough to watch him play."

Warne has dramatically lost weight since starting to date Hurley and pictures of the noticeably slimmer star caused astonishment when they emerged in August in Australia, where he is still a huge star.

Several overseas players have signed up with the eight franchises that will contest the tournament, including South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs, Paul Collingwood of England, and Pakistani Shahid Afridi.