The Ashes: Warne offered $1m to return

Will Shane Warne return to test cricket? Photo / Getty Images

A group of Queensland businessmen have reportedly offered Shane Warne $1 million to return to test cricket and save Australia from an embarrassing home Ashes defeat.

Speculation has been rife in the media that the 41-year-old will return to test cricket following Australia's innings and 71-run defeat in the second test to England on Monday.

Warne, who took 708 test wickets during his career that spanned 15 years, played his last test for Australia in January 2007 when the side completed a series victory over England at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

His last competitive match was a Twenty20 encounter for the Rajasthan Royals earlier in the year.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reports that a group of Queensland businessmen are "prepared to line Warne's pockets even further if he rescues Australia".

Meanwhile a Bring Back Warne website has been created and is taking public donations that will be presented to Warne in an attempt to entice a return to the game.

As of this morning the website had collected more than $4400 worth of donations with one person putting more than $500 towards the 'cause'.

Yesterday Warne played a straight bat to the comeback talk in his column for Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, saying: "There has been a bit written in Australia and people have been asking me about making a comeback. All I can say is that it is very flattering to hear those words."

Warne warned Australia against wholesale changes for the third Test, which starts at Perth's WACA ground on December 16.

"This is not the time to blood youngsters or panic.

"If Australia lose this series badly then that is the time to reassess everything and say, 'Right, it is back to the drawing board'.

"Then they can give three or four youngsters a go, with four or five experienced players, and try to rectify things."

However, he also said some changes may be needed for the third Test.
"The pitch is not fast and bouncy these days, so maybe you get a local guy who knows the Perth conditions, like left-arm spinner Michael Beer.
"Sometimes horses for courses works. Australia have to explore all options and win this next match to get back in this series. They need to look at all avenues and go all out for a win."

Victory in Adelaide, one of England's best all-round team performances in recent times, took the tourists a step closer to their goal of a first Ashes series win in Australia since Mike Gatting's side achieved the feat in 1986/87.

"We have to give England credit. They are well-planned, hungry and up for it," said Warne, who captained English county side Hampshire.
"A lot of the things we are saying about Australia now it seems we used to say about England all the time."

The Australian squad for the third Ashes test in Perth, starting next Thursday, is named today with the Age newspaper predicting at least four changes with Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Hauritz and Phillip Hughes expected to return.

- Herald online/AFP