Cricket: Warne's wrong 'un from off the field

Shane Warne

LONDON - Shane Warne, the Australian leg-spinner who has tormented England's cricketers for 12 years, admits his marriage breakdown may distract him at times during the Ashes series.

And Warne said his off-field troubles, which include last month's split from Simone, his wife of almost 10 years, might hasten his retirement from cricket - although he would not specify why or when he planned to finish.

Test cricket's leading wicket-taker is hopeful he can again shelve his personal dramas for his side's Ashes defence, which starts in the first test beginning at Lord's tomorrow, but accepts personal anguish at his marriage bust might make his job tougher.

"There will probably be periods, hopefully there's not, but human nature takes over," Warne said.

"I look back over the years when I've had things in my personal life that none of you guys [media] knew about, times when things have happened and you have to try and play cricket and deal with them as well.

"Generally the tougher the situation, the better I respond.

"But nothing like this has ever happened in my life before and it's not the way I wanted it to be."

How Warne responds on-field to his marriage split following recent sex scandals will be answered during the hotly-awaited series between the world's top two-ranked test nations.

Warne, 35, who has 583 test wickets and has taken 89 in three previous Ashes tours, vowed to concentrate on his cricket and "be there for" his team-mates.

"That's my job. As much as I see it as a hobby and a love and a passion, it is my job," he said. "I have to turn up every day no matter what and perform the best I can."

Warne said he had received great support from team-mates since joining them for the test series.

"They've all been very supportive of me and I think they're enjoying having me back, contrary to what some people think."

As he enters his final Ashes series in England - and possibly one of his last international tours - Warne is under increasing pressure to sustain his magic against England.

Years of bowling and a raft of injuries have curtailed much of his arsenal, and former England captain Nasser Hussain recently claimed Warne was nowhere near the bowler he was a decade ago.

Warne "couldn't give a rat's" about others' opinions, and pointed to his record since he returned from a one-year drugs ban, having taken 92 wickets in his last 16 tests, including success in Sri Lanka and India, and against Pakistan.

"I have had my [equal second] most successful year, so I must be doing something right.

"If I am no good any more I suppose I wouldn't be getting those results," he said.

Warne conceded it was impossible for him to be at his best physical condition because of previous shoulder and finger operations.

Although he now relies on his big-turning leg break as his most potent wicket-taking delivery, some other weapons could return.

He will bowl more wrong 'uns this series and is also working on reintroducing his flipper.

"I am about two good flippers out of five.

"Once it gets to three you will see it in the test match but at the moment I probably won't bowl it."

Warne was tinged with sadness at the thought this would be his last test series in England, although he said opponents like Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Kevin Pietersen made for a great contest.

"The question of whether I am good enough ... you weigh that up after five tests," he said.

On how the trials of his private life would affect his playing future, he said: "I definitely think it will make me play shorter."

- AAP