Warne's retirement plans loom (21 June 1999)

21 June 1999

Warne's retirement plans loom

Trevor Chesterfield

LONDON (England) - Shane Warne, the tormentor of so many batsmen in an eight-year career and who helped bring about South Africa's World Cup downfall at Edgbaston last week, is expected to announce his future plans today and these could include his retirement.

That's the big rumour on the day after Australia lifted the trophy at Lord's and their supporters were still parading their team's triumph around the area now dubbed 'graffiti square' - better known to many by the more famous name of Trafalgar Square.

Warne hinted at the media conference after the eight wicket victory over Pakistan at Lord's on Sunday that the final could be his last game at any level.

The World Cup media centre, which closed its doors for the last time at Lord's yesterday, was full of speculation that the man whose bewitching brilliance spun Australia to a triumph which a month ago looked out of reach, had said 'this is it, Tugga, enough for me' to his captain Steve Waugh after the game.

Later Warne admitted he was having serious thoughts about his career. 'I will go home and think hard about my future,' he said. 'This last week has been sensational: the best week of my life.

'To win the man of the match award in a semi-final and final is what you dream about, what you play for.

'But I am not at all sure where I am going form here. I need to talk to my family and think things through. A lot has happened in my life in the last six months, some things I did not expect. Some were fantastic, but the end of it all means I need to consider my future,' Warne commented.

His captain was not put out by the comments and indicates the two have talked through the issue.

'It is not for anyone else to tell him what to do,' Waugh said. 'We have gone through a lot of tough times together. I would love to keep him playing but it is his decision: a very personal thing.'

A shoulder operation last year kept Warne out of the game for nine months while rival Stuart McGill, overlooked for the World Cup, filled the role of the leg-spinner against England and in the West Indies the Tests series with some success.

Warne's announcement is expected to be made in today's edition of The Times for whom he has been writing a column during the World Cup.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News