Warne is looking to bring the Ashes back to Australia
Former Australia ‘spin king’ Shane Warne has caused a media uproar after announcing that he is contemplating making an international return and plans to rejoin the national team when they take on arch-rivals England in back-to-back Ashes series later this year.
Warne noted that he felt helpless watching captain Michael Clarke’s side get battered by South Africa skipper Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and the Proteas pace attack during the final Test in Perth.
“I felt like I wanted to jump off the couch and grab the ball,” Warne told News Ltd. “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.”
Even though the situation might seem a mile away and provide some people with a good laugh, Warne insisted that he would persuade Clarke to allow him to come out of retirement and give international cricket a go again.
Warne even went as far as saying that he would play his way through the domestic circuit and impress the national selectors to the point where they cannot ignore the fact any more.
“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. “Especially with back-to-back Ashes coming up next year, it could be a 12-month thing where you take three spinners with you and say, ‘Righto, work with these spinners and see how you go for 12 months.’ That’s a different kettle of fish.
“I’m definitely not asking for Michael Clarke to come out and say that – that’s a different scenario. 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.”
Warne also noted that he was in good shape and form and would use the Big Bash League as an opportunity to convince the national selectors and Clarke that he deserves a second shot at representing his country.
“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 said. “My kids are turning 16, 14 and 12 next year and we’re juggling two continents, Elizabeth [Hurley’s] 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. 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.”
Even though Clarke might be up for having his old pal back in the side once again, cricket pundits have pointed out that off-spinner Nathan Lyon cannot be tossed aside to allow Warne one more shot at glory, especially since he is the youngest off-spinner to take 50 Test wickets in Australia’s long and illustrious history.