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24-12-2006, 05:55 PM
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Test cricket's greatest bowler Shane Warne announced his retirement from international competition Thursday, drawing the curtain on one of the most celebrated careers in the sport's history.
Saying he wanted to go out on top, the 37-year-old Australian leg-spinner with a world record 699 Test wickets revealed the two remaining Ashes Tests against England will be his last international matches.
"It's been unbelievable -- my ride in international cricket's been phenomenal," an upbeat Warne told a packed media conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Warne said he had also retired from Australian domestic cricket but will see out the remaining two years of his contract with English county side Hampshire.
Fast bowler Glenn McGrath is also tipped to announce his retirement soon, while batsmen Damien Martyn quit suddenly just before the third Ashes Test.
Warne said he had considered retiring after the 2005 Ashes but decided to press on after Australia's shock loss to England set him on "a mission to get that urn back".
The goal was accomplished in emphatic fashion last week when Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and Warne said he could now retire happy, even though his remarkable bowling prowess remains intact.
He broke the news to captain Ricky Ponting as the team celebrated its Ashes victory in Perth.
"While the team's successful I think it's a good time to go out on top," Warne said, declaring "now is my time" and saying he could not imagine reversing the decision.
Warne's Test record and larger-than-life personality have already assured his status as a legend in the game.
The Sydney Daily Telegraph declared Warne's departure as the "End of an era" and the Australian newspaper hailed him as cricket's best ever bowler.
Warne was pleased to have the chance to take his 700th Test wicket before his adoring home crowd here and then finish his career in Sydney, where he made his debut against India in January 1992.
"I don't think I could have written the script any better," he told the nationally televised press conference.
Warne -- almost as well-known for his off-pitch antics including a series of sex scandals, a positive drugs test and bookmaking controversies -- said he was looking forward to time away from the spotlight.
"I suppose there's always going to be attention on what I'm doing in my personal life, off-field ... hopefully it won't be to the same level, the same scrutiny, the same intensity, the same judgemental, moralistic sort of stuff," he said.
The scandals led to Warne being stripped of the vice-captaincy in 2000 and probably prevented him from becoming Australian skipper, but he said he had no regrets.
"I've given everything I possibly could to the cause, and that was winning. Cricket to me is my hobby, my passion and I love doing it. Yeah, I'll probably miss it ... I've missed one-day cricket in the last few years."
Warne said he felt privileged to have played in a champion Australian side and felt he had given something to the game's fans.
"People have turned up, I like to think that I've given them entertainment and I've tried my guts out every single time," he said.
Warne said he would like to be remembered as someone who "gave it everything he possibly could, he had fun along the way, he was an entertainer and people liked watching me, I suppose".
Warne, whose attacking flair revolutionised spin bowling, also stressed the importance his fighting qualities played in his game.
"I've never walked away from an issue -- I'm knackered, I'm tired, I can't move -- I've still been able to turn up and play," he said. "I've given absolutely everything to the game."
He said he did not yet have any post-retirement plans, except to spend more time with his children, amid reports he will take a commentator's job with Australia's Channel Nine.
"I don't know what the future holds, I don't know what I'm going to be doing," he said, adding however that he had "some ideas".
He said he would work with Cricket Australia to forge a role in the sport in his home country.
"I love Australian cricket... and I'll do whatever it is to keep Australian cricket at the top," he said.
He laughed off a suggestion from his former captain Steve Waugh that he could eventually coach bitter rivals England, a side he has haunted and humiliated as a bowler.
"I don't know what Stephen's on," he said. On his immediate future, Warne said: "My focus is these next two Test matches and after that I'll sit back and have a few quiet beers and few smokes and try and weigh it all up and see what the future holds."
source :espn news
Test cricket's greatest bowler Shane Warne announced his retirement from international competition Thursday, drawing the curtain on one of the most celebrated careers in the sport's history.
Saying he wanted to go out on top, the 37-year-old Australian leg-spinner with a world record 699 Test wickets revealed the two remaining Ashes Tests against England will be his last international matches.
"It's been unbelievable -- my ride in international cricket's been phenomenal," an upbeat Warne told a packed media conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Warne said he had also retired from Australian domestic cricket but will see out the remaining two years of his contract with English county side Hampshire.
Fast bowler Glenn McGrath is also tipped to announce his retirement soon, while batsmen Damien Martyn quit suddenly just before the third Ashes Test.
Warne said he had considered retiring after the 2005 Ashes but decided to press on after Australia's shock loss to England set him on "a mission to get that urn back".
The goal was accomplished in emphatic fashion last week when Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and Warne said he could now retire happy, even though his remarkable bowling prowess remains intact.
He broke the news to captain Ricky Ponting as the team celebrated its Ashes victory in Perth.
"While the team's successful I think it's a good time to go out on top," Warne said, declaring "now is my time" and saying he could not imagine reversing the decision.
Warne's Test record and larger-than-life personality have already assured his status as a legend in the game.
The Sydney Daily Telegraph declared Warne's departure as the "End of an era" and the Australian newspaper hailed him as cricket's best ever bowler.
Warne was pleased to have the chance to take his 700th Test wicket before his adoring home crowd here and then finish his career in Sydney, where he made his debut against India in January 1992.
"I don't think I could have written the script any better," he told the nationally televised press conference.
Warne -- almost as well-known for his off-pitch antics including a series of sex scandals, a positive drugs test and bookmaking controversies -- said he was looking forward to time away from the spotlight.
"I suppose there's always going to be attention on what I'm doing in my personal life, off-field ... hopefully it won't be to the same level, the same scrutiny, the same intensity, the same judgemental, moralistic sort of stuff," he said.
The scandals led to Warne being stripped of the vice-captaincy in 2000 and probably prevented him from becoming Australian skipper, but he said he had no regrets.
"I've given everything I possibly could to the cause, and that was winning. Cricket to me is my hobby, my passion and I love doing it. Yeah, I'll probably miss it ... I've missed one-day cricket in the last few years."
Warne said he felt privileged to have played in a champion Australian side and felt he had given something to the game's fans.
"People have turned up, I like to think that I've given them entertainment and I've tried my guts out every single time," he said.
Warne said he would like to be remembered as someone who "gave it everything he possibly could, he had fun along the way, he was an entertainer and people liked watching me, I suppose".
Warne, whose attacking flair revolutionised spin bowling, also stressed the importance his fighting qualities played in his game.
"I've never walked away from an issue -- I'm knackered, I'm tired, I can't move -- I've still been able to turn up and play," he said. "I've given absolutely everything to the game."
He said he did not yet have any post-retirement plans, except to spend more time with his children, amid reports he will take a commentator's job with Australia's Channel Nine.
"I don't know what the future holds, I don't know what I'm going to be doing," he said, adding however that he had "some ideas".
He said he would work with Cricket Australia to forge a role in the sport in his home country.
"I love Australian cricket... and I'll do whatever it is to keep Australian cricket at the top," he said.
He laughed off a suggestion from his former captain Steve Waugh that he could eventually coach bitter rivals England, a side he has haunted and humiliated as a bowler.
"I don't know what Stephen's on," he said. On his immediate future, Warne said: "My focus is these next two Test matches and after that I'll sit back and have a few quiet beers and few smokes and try and weigh it all up and see what the future holds."
source :espn news