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Warne finally makes return

Wednesday, February 11 2004

Controversial leg spinner Shane Warne made a return to the bowling crease today following his 12 month ban for taking a banned diuretic.

Warne officially returned to cricket yesterday , on day 2 of Victoria’s 2nd XI clash with the Queensland Academy of Sport , but was unable to bowl due to persistant rain.
He batted , making just 11 before he fell caught behind , prompting a Victorian declaration.

Warne finally got his hands on the ball late today , after further rain delays.
He started in miserly fashion & took the wicket of QAS captain Aaron Nye , he quickly followed up by dismissing Steve Farrell for 2 , Farrell was given out leg before wicket by Warne’s former Victorian & Australian team mate Paul Reiffel , standing in his first match as an umpire at Cricket Australia cup level.

Warne finished the day with 2-32 from 16 overs , an encouraging start as he looks to gain selection for Australia’s test tour of Sri Lanka.
The squad to tour Sri Lanka will be named on February 20 , Warne will play an ING cup match against Tasmania this weekend.

The blonde spinner , Australia’s leading wicket taker in both forms of cricket with 491 test & 291 ODI wickets , appears likely to be named in the test squad due to the ineffectiveness of his main rival Stuart MacGill in this summers test series against India.


Posted by DavidH