Warne considers Cup return

Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne is considering returning to ODI cricket ahead of next year’s World Cup. The news was revealed yesterday by Australia’s coach, John Buchanan, who claimed that there have been “conversations” between himself, Warne, captain Ricky Ponting and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch on the subject.

Buchanan has hinted that Australia would like Warne to make up his mind sooner rather than later on the matter – he told the Australian Sun-Herald that “either he makes himself available in terms of the team moving forward with its plans, or not.”

The return of Warne would be a massive boost to Australia’s Cup hopes – he would immediately step back into place as the spearhead of his side’s ODI attack. In the absence of Glenn McGrath due to his wife’s illness, Brett Lee has led a remarkably inexperienced attack in recent months.

Since Warne’s original retirement from ODI cricket after the 2003 World Cup, he has reached some of his best form in Test cricket. He is now approaching the 700-wicket mark, and took an astonishing 40 wickets in the five Tests of last year’s titanic Ashes series. One can expect that should he return for the World Cup, he will retire once again afterwards – but the tournament will surely be a better one should he decide to grace it with his presence.