Grumpy Warne fumes at photo

WELLINGTON - Police were called after Australian cricket player Shane Warne snatched a bag from a young Wellington fan who had photographed him smoking.

The star spinner refused to give back the bag after he was snapped with the cigarette during Thursday's abandoned one-day international against New Zealand.

Warne, due to play in the second match of the series in Auckland today, was apparently not going to return the bag unless the boy gave him the film from the camera.

"Mr Warne was upset, I think, at the fact he had been photographed while smoking," Inspector Greg Gilpin of Wellington said yesterday.

The father of a friend of the boy called over two police constables to help retrieve the bag from Warne.

"He was certainly agitated and upset by what had occurred," Mr Gilpin said.

"He was obviously intent on getting the camera, and probably over-reacted to the situation."

Australian team manager Steve Bernard labelled the incident a minor misunderstanding.

"Shane ended up with the boy's bag and when asked to, by the police, he immediately returned it."

Mr Bernard said the leg-spinner denied swearing at the boy, believed to be aged about 10, or grabbing his bag when he allegedly reneged on a deal to return the film to Warne.

" will be in touch with the police tomorrow, and the boy if possible, with a view to clearing up any misunderstanding which may have occurred."

Warne was early last year paid $NZ239,000 by a pharmaceutical company to quit his 40-a-day habit and promote its anti-smoking gum and patches.

But in May, a London tabloid pictured him smoking in a Barbados bar.

- NZPA