Australian spin-meister Shane Warne has admitted that his high-profile personal problems, notably the recent break-up of his 10-year marriage, will cut short his career as the world’s most successful bowler.
”I definitely think it will make me play shorter,” Warne told reporters of his off-field dramas ahead of Thursday’s opening Ashes Test at Lords.
”I would rather not go into what they [the reasons] are, but I will probably play shorter for these reasons. I’m not sure when that is,” the 35-year-old said in remarks published in the Australian press.
The Sheik of Tweak is Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker, with 583 at 25,51 in 123 Tests, and his latest remarks suggested he could be on his last Ashes tour.
Just days earlier, Warne was playing down the impact of his marital split — his wife, Simone, left him following a string of highly publicised sexual escapades by the legendary bowler — on his playing career.
Warne had notably left open the possibility of playing on past the 2006/07 Ashes series in Australia.
Despite foreshadowing his earlier-than-expected departure from the game, Warne rejected suggestions he was past his prime going into the Ashes series.
”My results the last year have been my most successful at any stage since I have played,” he said when asked about recent comments from former England captain Nasser Hussain that the Australian was 10 years past his best form.
”Whether I am at my absolute peak, I think that’s physically impossible because of operations on my shoulders, fingers and knee. I can still be good enough to get wickets in international cricket,” he said.
Warne noted that he took 70 Test wickets last year, compared with 72 and 70 in 1993 and 1994 respectively.
”If I am no good any more, I wouldn’t be getting those results,” he said.
But he also said the emotional strain of recent weeks was at times difficult to cope with.
”I have some good days and some bad ones. Some days you’re moving on and other days it’s tough to move on, but I have to — move on and hopefully enjoy this series and make it one of my best ever,” he said. — Sapa-AFP