Warne announces retirement

[Los]

And surprise surprise specualtion was right with Warne announcing his retirement;

Warne – it's over


Article from: Herald-Sun





SHANE Warne has retired from all forms of Australian cricket, simply announcing: "My time is now."

Cricket's greatest ever wicket-taker will farewell his army of hometown Melbourne fans at the Boxing Day Test at the MCG and end his 15-year Test career after the Sydney Test from January 2-6.

He is also quitting state cricket with Victoria and club cricket with St Kilda but will complete the final two years of his contract with English county side Hampshire.

Warne has claimed 699 wickets and set to break the magic 700 mark next week.

The often controversial, but always brilliant spin king, told a packed press conference at the MCG today that he was happy to announce his retirement having helped Australia win back the Ashes.

"I sit here a very happy man to get that urn back,'' Warne said.

"It's been unbelievable - my journey and ride in international cricket has been phenomenal.

"I don't think I could have written the script any better.''

The 37-year-old, who has played 143 Tests, is the only current player to be included in Wisden's top-five cricketers of the 20th century.

Warne said he was certain this was the right time for him to step down from Australian cricket.

"I thought I'd be sad,'' he said. "A lot of people said `You'll know when your time's up, you'll know when your time's right'.

"I sort of doubted that, I didn't really understand what they meant.

"I sit here in front of you today and I know exactly what they mean.

"My time is now and I couldn't have asked for things to go any better.''

He said it was ideal to play his second-last Test in Melbourne in front of his home crowd and family and friends.

Then finishing in Sydney, where his Test career began against India in January 1992, would provide the perfect end.

"It's still my proudest moment playing my first Test match, an amazing feeling,'' Warne said.

"To have an opportunity to walk off in Sydney where it all began a long time ago I think is a great opportunity and something to celebrate."

It's unclear whether McGrath will fully retire from the sport or play on until after the World Cup in the West Indies in March.

Former national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said his panel never took for granted its luck in having two freakish campaigners in Warne and McGrath to anchor the side and said they would be sorely missed.

"They were just fabulous people to deal with – we were very lucky to have them both in the side at the same time," Hohns said.

"It is a sad day but it is also great that they have made the decision themselves and have not risked staying on too long."

Ian Chappell, leading batsman and Australian Test captain of the 1970s, said the timing was right for both Warne and McGrath to retire.

"I'm delighted for both of them that they are calling it a day at the end of this series," Chappell said.

"I think it's perfect timing for a champion player . . . if you make a mistake it's best to get out a little early than a little late."

In a glowing tribute to his former teammate, former Australian skipper Allan Border, who was shocked by the news of Warne's impending retirement, said the leg-spinner had been an ornament to the sport.

"Bradman, it's hard to make comparisons to that guy's record, but certainly the next level of cricketers . . . Warne is right there," Border said.

"He has been a breath of fresh air for the game. What he has done for the game is immeasurable really," Border said.

Tired of the demands of the job, it's understood Warne and McGrath felt they couldn't have scripted a better ending with Australia regaining the Ashes this week after last year's stunning defeat.

Boasting a glorious 143-Test career, Warne also has the lure of becoming the first man to take 700 Test wickets in what will be his final home Test at the MCG, beginning Boxing Day.

He will leave the game as the most successful bowler in history and the man who redefined leg-spin bowling at a time when it was almost extinct.

McGrath has emerged as the most prolific fast bowler in history, and has been the spearhead of Australia's attack since the breakthrough 1995 tour of the West Indies. He has 555 wickets in 122 Tests and will be remembered for his impeccable line and length.

Warne and McGrath were the bowling backbone of Australia's rise through the mid-1990s which culminated in the team holding the world's No. 1 ranking for the past decade.

They were instrumental in the 1999 World Cup victory, while McGrath was also part of the winning 2003 campaign.

Warne flagged retirement in August when he said an Ashes victory may provide the perfect ending to his career.

After this week's win in Perth, he seemed a content man. "The script couldn't have worked out any better," he said. "We have the Ashes urn back and I now have a chance to take my 700th wicket in front of my home crowd.

"It's amazing how my career has unfolded. Things just have a funny way of working out."

the silly Aussie media are trying to say he was the best ever, wanting stands named after him blah blah blah, look he was good but if he wasn't around we would all be crowing about McGill or some other cricketer.

he is replacable but he was good.

[forwardone]

Warne will be missed though for a while I`m sure. Has to be one of the best leg spinners ever.

Now, another bowling retirement has been announced:-

Steve Harmison has announced his immediate retirement from international one-day cricket, as Michael Vaughan returns to the squad to face Australia and New Zealand.

Leicestershire wicketkeeper Paul Nixon is a shock inclusion, at the expense of Geraint Jones, while Monty Panesar has made the 16-man party for the first time.

Durham paceman Harmison had been looking to quit the one-day game after the World Cup but his continued struggle for form in the limited overs game has seen him bring forward his retirement.

Harmison was dropped by England for their final Champions Trophy match against West Indies and it looks as though he would struggle to get back into the side for the World Cup.

"After careful consideration and having taken advice from several people who have been close to me throughout my career, I have decided to retire from one-day International cricket with immediate effect," said Harmison.

"This has been a difficult decision but I want to play at the highest level for as long as I can and believe that concentrating solely on Test cricket is the best way forward for me during the next phase of what will hopefully be a long England career."

Vaughan has been out in Australia working on his fitness following his lengthy knee injury, but he is now back in the 16-man squad for the one-day series.

England's selectors have not yet named a captain for the series though, and Vaughan will only take back the reins if he is fully fit.

"Michael has been included in the one-day squad subject to fitness," explained chairman of selectors David Graveney.

"He has made excellent progress with his recovery from injury, but we feel that it would not be appropriate to announce the captaincy of the one-day side at this stage and will delay any announcement until after the Test series."

Chris Read will start as wicketkeeper as Jones, who was left out of the Champions Trophy, is again omitted after failing to shine during the Test series.

36-year-old gloveman Nixon is the shock inclusion in the squad as the selectors look to be uncertain about that position so close to the start of the World Cup.

"Paul Nixon is a vastly experienced cricketer who knows his game inside out and will bring a great deal of energy to the dressing room," added Graveney, who insisted his selection was not a step backward.

Hampshire seamer Chris Tremlett is also included despite his injury problems, but there is no room for talented youngster Stuart Broad despite making an impression in three one-dayers last summer.

Left-arm spinner Panesar is included in a one-day squad for the first time after his promising Ashes Test debut in Perth.

England one-day squad:
James Anderson, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, James Dalrymple, Andrew Flintoff, Ed Joyce, Jon Lewis, Sajid Mahmood, Paul Nixon, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Chris Read, Andrew Strauss, Chris Tremlett, Michael Vaughan.

Source:- Sky Sports