Date:21/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/21/stories/2008052160352100.htm

Sport - Cricket

No chance of Warne’s comeback

Melbourne: Shane Warne may have hinted at his possible comeback against arch-rival England for the next Ashes but Cricket Australia (CA) and captain Ricky Ponting do not see the idea materialising even if the legendary spinner is good enough for the challenge.

CA’s Philip Pope said on Tuesday the story was a “fairytale”.

“We should all have a bit of perspective. Stuart MacGill is looking as fit as I’ve seen him in the last few years. He’s over in the West Indies taking wickets, he’s preparing to play a Test match for Australia,” he said.

“I spoke to Shane when he came to the office before he left for India and this kind of story certainly wasn’t on his agenda,” he was quoted as saying by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“If Australia really needed me and there was no one else around, and Ricky (Ponting) thought I could do the job, you would weigh up the options,” Warne said. Warne had also admitted his return would be a “fairytale.” —PTI