SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Shane Warne is set to return to cricket in Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash competition less than six months after announcing his retirement, local media reported yesterday.
The 42-year-old leg-spinning great said he was bringing an end to his professional career in May after his final match for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League to focus on media work and his business interests.
The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday, however, reported that Warne was set to sign with the Melbourne Stars for the first season of the relaunched eight-team Big Bash League.
Warne, who last played in Australia during the 2006-2007 Ashes whitewash of England and ended his test career with 708 wickets, hinted on his Twitter page (www.twitter.com/warne 888)last week that he might be coming out of retirement.
“Might have some exciting news about cricket to share with you all soon… Hope you are excited as I am about this… Watch this space ! Haha,” he tweeted.
His manager, James Esrkine, further fuelled the speculation with his comments on Thursday about Warne’s fitness.
“He went out on the ultimate high in Australia, taking 700 wickets, winning the Ashes,” he told the Herald.