Australia’s greatest cricketer of the modern era, Shane Warne will announce his retirement from international cricket tomorrow at the end of the Sydney Test.
Warne is expecting to claim his 700th test wicket at his home ground, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, during the forthcoming Boxing Day Test. He is Test Cricket’s leading wicket taker, and in 2000, he was named one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the century.
Warne holds a most celebrated and controversial careers of all-time. Warne is expecting to accept a position in Channel Nine Commentary Team after the Sydney Test.
Earlier, Warne was in light for a number of sex scandals, a bookmaking controversy and a positive drug test, for which he remain suspended for 12 months. He was suspended in 2003 for testing positive to a banned diuretic. At the time, Warne stated, he took the tablet from his mother for weight-loss purpose.
Chairperson of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Dick Pound pointed Warne in his book Inside Dope, and wrote,
“The diuretic was a masking agent that could have hidden the possible use of steroids that would help the injury cure faster. He had returned to play almost twice as quickly as the experts had predicted’.
In 1998 Warne and Waugh accepted money from a bookmaker for sharing the weather and pitch information. Warne, Waugh and Tim May had stated earlier, that Salim Malik, the Pakistani cricketer had approached and proposed some bribe to them, to bowl and bat badly during the Australia Tour to Pakistan in 1994.
Warne, the renowned leg spinner, started his career against India in Sydney in January 1992.Warne famed in 1993 during the Ashes in England after claiming the wicket of Mike Getting around the leg on the very first ball, which is called a perfect leg-break. The delivery was dubbed as ‘The delivery of the century’.
In 2005, he took 40 wickets in the series, claiming wickets of some of the renowned batsmen in the side. Warne proved himself by dismissing Panesar at the WACA Stadium on Monday, to get revenge from England for the defeat they faced fifteen months ago at the Oval in England.
The lovers of the game have pondered the possibility of 1000 test wickets in international cricket. But Warne disappointed them as he said, ‘These are the things you’re going to miss ... “I’m closer to the end than the bloody start’.
In the news published earlier, The Australian cricketers had talked about their retirement, as most of the members in the side are aged. Recently, Damien Martyn took sudden retirement from international cricket, and this news put the people on to their heels.
As the World Cup is around the corner, Australian team needs such fantastic players who are experienced. If age factor is leading the players toward the retirement, Australia will face a huge loss, as they are the World’s Favorites. Players like Warne, Damien Martyn, McGrath, Ponting, Gilchrist and Hayden are the most wanted in the world cup ahead. All the players should focus to the World Cup 2007 to make another history, rather than thinking of retirement from the international cricket.
Especially, Warne should play for the World Cup, as fans would love to see him in action back again, and to witness his magic on the pitch. Warne should change his mind for the betterment of the Australian team and to win the World Cup for his side once again.
