Warne looking good, says Border

BRISBANE, DEC. 22. Test selector Allan Border said today Australia's greatest wicket-taker Shane Warne, who is battling a finger injury, had shown encouraging signs in his nine-over stint in Thursday's tribute match in Brisbane.

Warne took one for 38, claiming the wicket of retired England great Graham Gooch, in the Ian Healy testimonial match.

``He is really happy with the way it feels,'' Border said in the Herald Sun newspaper. ``He just has to go through the techniques of bowling. But he has no pain, that's the main thing.''

Victoria has named Warne in two 15-man squads for domestic matches against Western Australia next month. Warne is likely to miss the entire five-Test series between Australia and the West Indies after breaking his finger taking a catch for Victoria against New South Wales in Melbourne in October.

The fourth Test starts on Warne's home turf, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on December 26 and the fifth Test on January 2. Australia leads the series 3-0.

Swing-bowler Damien Fleming is also hoping to push his way back into the Australian team after struggling with finger and neck injuries in the past two months.

Fleming has not bowled for a month. The Western Australian four- day match takes on added significance for Warne and Fleming as Victoria's next four-day match after that is from February 19 to 22 against South Australia in Adelaide.

- Reuters

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