Warne worried about being embarrassed

Rather than lap up the cricketing spotlight again, Shane Warne just hopes he won’t be a prime time viewing embarrassment on Sunday night.

Warne will go head-to-head with great mate Michael Clarke when he captains the Australian Cricket Association All Stars against Clarke’s Australian XI in a Twenty20 friendly at the Gabba.

The leg-spinning great will join with fellow former Test stars Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden in the All Stars line-up which also includes young guns like clean-hitting local boy Nathan Reardon.

Warne, who last bowled at the IPL in South Africa six months ago, said the semi-retired former internationals were keen to put on a good show.

“For us it’s about not embarrassing ourselves, not bowling too many double bouncers and full bungers,” he said before a Gabba training session.

“It’s a great concept and it should be a good game.”

In a exhibition match televised by Channel Nine, the All Stars will be coached by Dennis Lillee while another 1970s and ’80s great, Greg Chappell, has taken the reins of the Australian XI.

Clarke, who has officially taken over from Ricky Ponting as Australia’s Twenty20 captain, is one of just three Test players in the team along with Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle.

It will Siddle’s first match since returning from the one-day tour of India three weeks ago with a side strain.

Warne backed off-spinner Nathan Hauritz to keep his Test place against the West Indies after a fine return to international cricket in the past year.

“I think Nathan Hauritz is doing a pretty good job, a good sign of any international cricketer is if you improve, and I think Nathan Hauritz has improved since he first started,” he said.

“He’s going pretty well.”

Australia XI: Michael Clarke (capt), Cameron White, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, David Warner.

All Stars: Shane Warne (capt), Travis Birt, Lee Carseldine, Adam Gilchrist, Daniel Harris, Matthew Hayden, Jason Krejza, Rhett Lockyear, Graham Manou, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Reardon, Nathan Rimmington.

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