Shane Warne says he would weigh up an SOS call to return to the Australian Test team but believes an offer is unlikely to come and doesn’t feel the team needs him anyway.
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Speaking at the launch of his book, ‘Shane Warne’s Century: My Top 100 Test Cricketers‘ at the Australian Commission in London, the leg-spinner insisted he was happily retired and doubted whether he would have the time to pursue a comeback.
Warne has bowled just three balls since the IPL finished in May and though admitting he landed them OK, feels the injured Bryce McGain will eventually return and establish himself as a Test cricketer.
Batting all-rounder Cameron White was called up as a replacement for McGain who suffered a shoulder injury, leading to speculation Warne might consider coming out of retirement.
“I’m fit enough, as in running around the block, I’m probably as fit as I’ve ever been,” Warne said.
“I bowled three balls in Brisbane the other day. They’re the first since the IPL – what’s that, four months?
“Look, I’m happily retired. The Australian side’s playing well. They played well in the West Indies. They don’t need me at the moment. I don’t think the call will come. If the call comes I’ll weigh it up at the time.”
While he feels his own Test career is over, Warne doesn’t believe the same is true of McGain, who at 36 is just three years his junior.
“I’m sure he will play Test matches again,” Warne said.
“He’s a wonderful bowler. He’s 36 but he’s only played a dozen first class games. He’s been playing club cricket for the last ten years so the wear and tear of first class cricket he hasn’t had to put up with.
“He could play for a few years.”
Warne believes Australia will decide on a game-by-game basis, whether to to rely on White and Michael Clarke as their spin options, or play Jason Krejza who ended the pre-Test tour match against the Indian Board Presidents XI in Hyderabad with figures of 0-199.
“It will be interesting to see what they do, whether they strengthen the batting with Cameron White as the two spinners or play an out and out spinner in [Jason] Krejza,” Warne said.
“It might depend on the conditions and what make-up they want in their side before they pick their team. It will be interesting to see what they do.”
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