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Warne shelves retirement plans

Australian leg spinner Shane Warne has abandoned his plan to quit cricket, announcing today that he wanted to keep playing for at least the next few years.

Warne had threatened to retire from the game because he had become disillisioned with the constant grind of touring and the media's fascination with his private life.

But he told the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today that he changed his mind after discussing his future with his family and had agreed to make himself available for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

''Being a part of our great win in the World Cup was just the tonic to get me thinking positively again,'' Warne said in a statement released by the ACB.

''I love the camaraderie of the team both in the Test and one-day arenas and I'm looking forward to playing against Sri Lanka, if selected.''

Warne, already recognised as one of the greatest slow bowlers in cricket history, shocked the cricketing world when he announced after Australia's World Cup victory over Pakistan last month that he was considering early retirement.

Warne said he was tired of the constant criticism of his performances since he returned from shoulder surgery at the start of the year and was upset at the way the focus on his private life was affecting his young family.

He had been dropped from the Australian Test team during their tour of the West Indies but bounced back to his best during the World Cup in England, finishing the tournament as the equal leading wicket taker and winning the Man-of-the-Match award in the final.

''In the end, I'm sure I would have missed the game too much if I had retired,'' Warne said.

''I'm only 29 and I think I have plenty to give to cricket as a senior player before retiring. I don't usually set myself goals, but I have now, particularly in Test cricket, and I am determined to achieve them.''

ACb chief executive Malcolm Speed said he was delighted Warne had decided to keep going.

''Shane's decision to make himself available for selection is very welcome. He is a proven match winner and a world class bowler,'' Speed said.

''Having seen Shane's World Cup performances, I'm not sure that too many batsmen around the world would share our delight, but I can only say that we are looking forward to seeing him playing for Australia for years to come.''

UNI