Warne could hang boots on Ashes high

Spin wizard says he might retire if Oz win back Ashes as he could not think of a better farewell. Sept 6, 2005 | Warne looks to end Ashes career with win

Spin wizard Shane Warne has said he might retire if Australia win back the Ashes urn this summer as he could not think of a better farewell for himself.

HT Image

The world's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket said he was fit to play for another three years but if his team won the Ashes against England this summer, he might hang his boots.

"It's going to be a question that's asked a lot through the summer. Is this your last series in Australia? Is this your last Ashes series?" Warne was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

"Those questions, when you get to a certain age and have played for 15 years, always come up. You can't really avoid it.

"I haven't thought, 'If we win, I am retiring. If we lose, I am going to keep playing'. But, who knows. Say I take another 40 wickets this series and score 250 runs, and we win the series, then there mightn't be a better way to go out," the 37-year-old said.

Warne, however, said he would not officially announce his retirement beforehand to be given a farewell at every ground.

"I wouldn't be one of those guys that retire at the start of the summer and say 'this is it' and at every ground have a farewell. I wouldn't do that. When my time is up, my time is up. I might just say before my last Test that this is it," said the veteran of 140 Tests.