Shane Warne

[Carrot Cruncher]

They asked him 18 months ago to play in England and he said no (I think even the Aussie PM asked/begged him), I can't see him saying yes 18 months further down the line.

If I was them I would give Brett Lee and Shaun Tait a phone call just to check if they weren't interested in a game at Perth.

I agree with this. However, Warne's in a win/win situation. The speculation is massaging his ego something special and he can just sit back, lap it up and say, "Aww, look, I'd love to bowl again but I'm not fit enough for tests/I care about the integrity of the development of Aussie cricket." etc, etc.

Warne in today's Telegraph pretty much ruled himself out and suggested that a couple of years of Aussie cricket going backwards was going to help the long term going forward. Making himself available and therefore depriving a young player who may take a while to bed down, but will ultimately reward would make a mockery of this and make him a hypocrite and I don't think he's that guy.

He was also bigging up Beer as the spinner of choice - not Sussex' one unsurprisingly!

 

[rcf0712]

Bit harsh that, Harris bowled well considering that he had no support and it was a flat pitch - but the rest looked crap. Who on earth decided that Bollinger and Doherty were test cricketers? They must be seriously deluded.

I though Harris was very good, the rest of them however were dire......

 

[rcf0712]

It's all everyone is talking about here folks - to me iot just shows how stunned the Aussie public is by the fact they are clearly second best in a home Ashes series.
Surely it can't and won't happen.....

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Close wasn't brought back as a captain - he played against West Indies in 1976 at the age of 45 but Greig was captain.

From the time (I can't remember the comedian):

Ahhhhh, summer, and the sound of leather ......................... on Brian Close's chest.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

When men were men.

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[OzMike]

I think the only speculation is over there, not much of a mention here.
He commented that he would be flattered if asked, just said for publicity as I don't think he was ever asked.IMHO.

 

[Goodfella]

Tis f***ing funny watching those aussies in such turmoil though, even contemplating asking someone back who hasnt really played for 18 months

 

[highway61]

When men were men.

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I so remember watching that on telly at the time. Gutsy bastard was he

 

[Gwylan]

That's a great clip, DKM. It seems incredible now that people faced the likes of Holding without helmets and chest guards. It does put in perspective how batting averages have been artificially inflated since the end of the 70s - it was much harder batting in that period.

It's also noticeable that the batsman at the other end is John Edrich, 39 at the time, with 35-year-old David Steele in next. And we think Australia are looking old...

Warne's a spring chicken compared to that lot.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

From the Guardian Blog (Vic Marks article about Warne). Mike Selvey writes in the blog:

I don't recall Closey spitting blood, but without question he had fractured ribs which looked like a Turner sunset. The most astonishing thing was, as pointed out by Edrich, who don't forget also faced the music with immense bravery for the 80 minutes it lasted, and was laughing hysterically in the dressing room, was that at the end of the day, Close had amassed a magnificent unbeaten 1.

Selvey was in the changing room - waiting to come on as nightwatchman!.

 

[Fawkesy]

either way im not too fussed, the pure fact that he has been sounded out just goes to show you the current state of Australian cricket.

A 41 year old who hasnt played international cricket for a few years now, bring it on!

Would be great to see him out in the middle again though, even more so if KP is smashing him for consecutive sixes!

 

[Pavilionaire]

The ditch their opening pace attack after one test. They're calling for Warne after 2 tests. God knows what will happen if we win the 3rd Test...

 

[Gwylan]

The ditch their opening pace attack after one test. They're calling for Warne after 2 tests. God knows what will happen if we win the 3rd Test...

They'll resurrect this man - Aussie scientists are working on it now

 

[CHAPPERS]

They'll resurrect this man - Aussie scientists are working on it now

He can't be any worse than Marcus North.