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Warne will be back to play for Australia in the Ashes. Not sure if that signals defeat for Australia or England…..
Warne again
By Will 6 months ago Add your comment below
Today isn’t the day to lament Shane Warne’s absence, but tomorrow might be. South Africa lost an early wicket before Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis - the yawning dream team - steadied South Africa once again. Australia’s dearth of spin, and of pulling rabbits out of impossibly tiny hats like Warne did for fun, will begin to hurt them.
Will Warne return? It seems implausible, not least because it would signal defeat for Australia; that their future lies with the past. That notion isn’t far from the truth given their historic defeat in this series, but all teams must move on, a notion that Australia hasn’t had to ponder for years. Unfortunately, like Maradona, David Campese, Martin Johnson and other towers of sport, the specter of a truly great sportsmen like Warne can linger for years.
Warne himself has scoffed at a possible return, but he is no ordinary character. Of all Australia’s retired and not-forgotten, he has the charisma and chutzpah to break with tradition and make a memorable (if fleeting) reappearance for the Ashes - his and Australia’s most cherished battle.
So I’m going to put myself on the line here: if Australia lose the return series in South Africa, Warne will be back at Ponting’s insistence.
There’s a poll at the site, on the right, where you can vote - and have your say below.
Related posts:
- Warne: 694 and counting
- The return of Warne
- Warne to figure in 2009 Ashes
- England v Warne (again)
- Trescothick falls to Warne
Tags: ashes, ricky-ponting, shane-warne, south-africa, the-ashes |
8 Responses to “Warne again”
January 4th, 2009 at 11.59 am
January 4th, 2009 at 12.25 pm
Don’t know if Australia’s loss in South Africa would be the return of Shane Warne but if that happens that would definitely compose the last burial rites of Australian cricket.
January 4th, 2009 at 1.11 pm
I’m against the idea of Warne coming back. As you say, Will, all teams must move on, and it’s up to Australia’s selectors to make the most out of what we have. Hauritz is a decent spinner who just took four wickets in Melbourne, and will probably do well in Sydney too. Krezja is another decent spinner who can be a real wicket-taker, although he’s got to learn some control first. If Australia lose this Test, it won’t be because our spinner isn’t good enough.
January 4th, 2009 at 1.40 pm
1. Australia will lose the return leg of the series in RSA.
2. Australia does not need Warne for the ashes, they will win comfortably withought him.
RSA batting lineup is solid, England’s is not. Both sides have tame bowlers but the Aussie bat will prove the difference.
January 4th, 2009 at 3.06 pm
Australia would make a huge mistake in getting Warne back. What’s the point and what would it do to the already weak confidence of the likes of Hauritz, Krejza et al.
Sure he might come back for this years Ashes, Australia wins ( although at the present state even WITH HIM, I would tip England to win it), and then?? He hibernates and plays in the IPL till Ashes 2011? It’s a no win situation for all concerned.
Lastly, there is something bonkers with the voting system you’ve installed Will ! 63 (%) + ( 38 %) = 101 % !! Sums don’t seem to add up!!
January 4th, 2009 at 6.39 pm
I’m with Ferdinand.
Unless Clark is raring fit and produces a similar performance to last SA series, Australia will lose the return leg.
They’re still far superior to England though.
January 4th, 2009 at 8.13 pm
Will, I have to take exception with that comparison, Warne can be compared with Maradona, but not with Johnson and Campese, one of which was a good player and excellent leader, and the other a good winger. Neither were so good as to leave a lasting hole, just good enough to be missed for a while.
Warne is irreplaceble, not because it’s hard to find good leggies, but because he changed the nature of leg-spin bowling in particular and spin bowling generally. Before Warne (and certainly on covered pitches) it was accepted that a spinner could be a danger to batsmen on a last-day pitch, and otherwise he was an option if the captain wanted to buy a wicket. Warne came along as that type of bowler, loose but with a big rip, and soon turned himself into an uncannily accurate attacking leggie. The fact that Australia have dumped Kresjka belies the fact that they think they are entitled to another Warne, in the same way England kept picking shitty bits-and-pieces players expecting that another Botham would turn up.
Anyway. Warne is finished, I think that’s certain. He would have nothing to gain from a return, Cricket Australia will have everything to lose, and neither really want to be beholden to the other nowadays. Unless they sack Ponting and offer him the captaincy… 
Cheers
January 4th, 2009 at 11.34 pm
Dilip,
With the poll system. If one of the responces has a decimal place it obviously rounds to the nearest whole number.
For example, if 62.5 rounds to 63 and 37.5 rounds to 38
62.5 + 37.5 = 100
BUT
63 + 38 = 101
Make sense??
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