Ponting, Gilchrist back Warne's return to ODIs

The chances of Shane Warne returning to One-Day International rose when Aussie captain and vice-captain threw his support behind the idea.

The chances of champion leg-spinner Shane Warne returning to international one-day cricket rose on Thursday when Australian captain Ricky Ponting threw his support behind the idea.

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"I think Shane would love to play in the (2007) World Cup, there's a lot of time and a lot of cricket to be played between now and then," Ponting said.

Warne announced he would step aside from the one-day game after the 2003 World Cup, only to then miss Australia's march to victory in the tournament when he failed a drug test.

He has since returned to Test cricket without missing a beat and played a starring role for the World XI in Monday's tsunami relief match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Ponting said Warne was aware of the problems involved in returning to one-day cricket and also of Australia's efforts to nurture young spinners Nathan Hauritz and Cameron White.

"Shane has always got in the back of his mind about what sort of effect playing one-day cricket could have on his Test career," Ponting said.

"I know he wants to keep playing Test cricket for as long as he can.