Warne Retires From First-Class Cricket, but he will play IPL
London, UK, March 28, 2008
Shane Warne, the second-highest wicket-taker in Test history, retired from first-class cricket and won't return to captain Hampshire, the English club said.
The Australian, 38, said he was unable to make a full-time commitment to the county because of family and business obligations. He will continue to be involved with the Jaipur franchise in the Indian Premier League as captain and coach.
``This was not an easy decision to make, but due to some exciting business opportunities and wanting to spend more time with my children, I had to make this call,'' Warne said in a club statement. ``My eight years involved with Hampshire have been a wonderful experience.''
Warne made his debut with Hampshire in 2000 and was named club captain in 2004. He took 276 first-class wickets for the team at an average of 25.59 and claimed 7-99 against Middlesex in 2006. Altogether, he took 1,319 first-class wickets in his career at an average of 26.11.
One of the finest leg-spin bowlers in the sport's history, Warne took a record 708 Test wickets for Australia. That mark was broken by Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan in December.
``I have been extremely lucky to have had the best seat in the house for the past few years working closely with this legend,'' Hampshire team manager Paul Terry said. ``He has been fantastic for the club with his incredible enthusiasm, drive and skill as captain.''
Warne retired from international cricket in January 2007 after helping Australia to a 5-0 whitewash of England in the Ashes series. In 2000, he was named one of the five ``Cricketers of the 20th Century,'' by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.
Last month, he was signed by Jaipur in the new Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, a one-day form of the game that doesn't carry first-class status. He's on an annual contract of $450,000, with the event starting next month.
Warne, who had a year left on his county contract, is succeeded as Hampshire captain by Dimitri Mascarenhas, 30, who's also playing for Jaipur in the IPL.
Source - bloomberg - Top ^
