UNITED KINGDOM / AUSTRALIA / FILE: CRICKET- Hampshire Cricket Club confident that Shane Warne will play for them again after announcing his retirment from international cricket

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne is planning to retire from international cricket after next month's fifth Ashes test against England, Australian television reported on Wednesday (December 20). The Nine Network said Warne would announce his pending retirement at a news conference in Melbourne on Thursday and pursue a career in television. Cricket Australia officials were unable to confirm the report. However it is expected that Warne will play out his 4-year county contract with Hampshire. "We haven't had any official word from Shane or Australia, what I can tell you is he is two years into a four-year contract. We haven't had any indication from him in the past that he doesn't intend to see out that contract and return next year. He plays exciting cricket that we like at Hampshire, we love him here and I think the Hampshire fans love him and we'll all be waiting for the news just like you are hoping that he is going to come back and play at Hampshire. If he does retire from international cricket, as would seem to be the indication, what a sad loss he'll be to the international game, he's a true great and if it does transpire that's what's happening but he then comes and plays at Hampshire, well what a fantastic boon for the Hampshire fans," said Glenn Delve, managing director of Rosebowl Hampshire Cricket Club on Wednesday (December 20). Rumours of Warne's retirement have been circulating in the Australian media for years and Wednesday's report ironically came on the same day that he wrote a column for a Sydney newspaper saying he had no immediate plans to quit. However, the 37-year-old hinted his career was drawing closer to an end after helping Australia regain the Ashes in the third test in Perth, which ended on Monday. Nine's unconfirmed announcement caught Australia's cricket community by surprise with national selector David Boon telling reporters he had not heard anything. Warne is the world's leading wicket-taker and arguably the most famous cricketer since Australia's legendary batsman Don Bradman. He already has 699 test scalps and is poised to become the first man to reach the once-unimaginable 700 barrier when the fourth Ashes test starts in his home town of Melbourne next Tuesday. Australian television also reported that fast bowler Glenn McGrath was planning to retire from international cricket after next month's fifth Ashes test against England but did not say when McGrath planned to make his decision. Rumours have been rife that Australia's all-conquering team would be broken up after this Ashes series, with half the side 35 or over. Damien Martyn helped confirm the reports when he suddenly announced his retirement after the second test in Adelaide, but Australian captain Ricky Ponting said this week he was not expecting a mass exodus. Despite their incredible success over the past decade and a half, Australia's players were dismissed as past their sell-by-date after their shock series loss in England last year. But the team has not a lost a test since, including a resounding victory against a star-studded Rest of the World side, and avenged their loss to England by regaining the Ashes from England in record time.

ITN Source | December 21, 2006

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