Shane Warne speaks during the Big Bash League season launch
on Monday (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Shane Warne says he'd consider an Ashes comeback - but
only if asked by Australian captain Michael Clarke.
Australia's record wicket-taker, who is preparing for another
season of the Big Bash League, told News Limited newspapers
he could confidently bowl up to Test standard again.
While indicating he was happily retired form the longer form
of the game Warne said if his close friend Clarke suggested
his services were needed he'd give it some serious thought.
"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.
The 43 year-old, who has 195 Ashes wickets in 36 Tests at an
23.25, said he felt the urge to play the five-day game again
while watching the third Test against South Africa in Perth,
when the Australian attack took a beating in the Proteas'
second innings.
"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 said he was well pleased with his bowling for the
Renegades in the lead up to the T20 BBL.
"I think I'm bowling as good as I have for a long time - the
best I have since I retired from international cricket in
2007," he said.
"It's because I'm fresh. I don't bowl for 9-10 months of the
year and bowl 5000 overs any more."
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