Beaten Warne vows to bounce back
| 14:24 UK time, Sunday, 19 August 2007
Shane Warne has achieved more than most people in the history of the game, and certainly more than the majority could ever aspire to.
But even after all those years as part of the all-conquering Australian side, the legendary leg-spinner is not invulnerable - and cut a slightly forlorn figure after captaining Hampshire to a heavy defeat by Durham in the Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord's - his first domestic final.
"It hurts. I think I've played in more winning Test matches than any other player, and I really hate losing," he admitted after in a game which was stretched into a second day by rain.
"It's never easy losing a final - I remember losing the 1996 World Cup final to Sri Lanka, and then there was losing at The Oval, and the 1992/93 series to the West Indies in Australia,
"As captain it's a different sort of feeling. You always debrief afterwards, and think over whether you made the right decisions. But I wouldn't have done anything differently."
Warne has marshalled his side to great effect over the last three seasons, guiding his side to second and third-placed finishes in the Championship, while they in his absence on international duty.
The skipper shuffled his bowlers around at Lord's, but Paul Collingwood and Dale Benkenstein in particular seemed content to see off Warne's own leg-spin - even playing out a maiden in the 40th over of the innings - before attacking the seamers.
"The first seven or eight overs in each innings were where Durham gained the advantage. We had plans in place, but we just didn't execute them.," Warne said.
"You saw from when they bowled that there was enough moisture around when we decided to bowl first, but we didn't get enough balls in the right spot.
"Some of the bowling changes did work, as I brought Sean Ervine on and he got a wicket, I switched James Bruce to the other end and he got Phil Mustard out.
"Benkenstein edged his first ball over the top of the stumps for four, so most things went their way - but that generally happens when you're playing better cricket.
"Durham didn't allow us to play well - they outplayed us, and they thoroughly deserve their victory."
The tall order facing Hampshire's batsmen became even taller when they lost two wickets to the first two balls of the innings, and Durham were already odds-on favourites by the time rain curtailed Saturday's play.
Defiant to the last, Warne still held out hope of an unlikely victory - but their fate was sealed with the early departure of Nic Pothas and Dimitri Mascarenhas, leaving Warne himself batting with the tail in a lost cause - and he was last out as Durham completed their victory.
But however much it may hurt him, the ebullient Warne - who said before the game that he felt it was "only a matter of time" before his side won the County Championship - now focuses his determination on the conclusion to the Championship and Pro40 league campaigns, holding out for two more trophies.
"When you lose a final like this, you can go one of two ways - it can ruin your season and you can fall away, or the fact it is hurting can give you inspiration," he insisted.
"I know what our players are like, and I think this could inspire us to go on and achieve some special things this season as we've still got a lot to play for.
"Lancashire is a massive game for us this week - if we can win it with maximum points, we could go top of the table with a game in hand on Yorkshire."
Warne also insists that whatever happens, he will be back to lead his adopted county next season - "I've got one more year on my contract, and to me a contract is a contract".
However, he seemed bemused by the media attention, particularly in his native land, given to his revelation on Friday that he , through his mother, in order to play for Hampshire as a European Union player next season - when counties will only be permitted one, rather than two overseas players.
"I think it's got a little bit out of hand, with front-page stories in Australia," he said.
"Just to clear it up, my mother was German, and moved to Australia when she was four or five. I'm Australian, simple as that, and I always will be, although I've lived in England for four or five years and been a resident of the UK.
"But the way the EU system and the rules are, we're looking into it to see if there's any possibility that I could have a dual passport and play as a local player, as a lot of Australians have - that's not doing anything against the laws.
"My name is Shane Warne - I'm not going to be Adolf Warne or anything like that."
If Warne's determination to win the Ashes back for his country last winter after losing them in 2005 is anything to go by, do not write off his chances of lifting a trophy this season just yet.
But as one journalist put it - which drew a frosty response from the Australian - just don't mention the Waugh twins.
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Shane is a strong person.When he is focused he can make it happen.
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I think this German passport for Warne is ridiculous: he should accept he's at the end of his career and give way gracefully to younger players - he's had his day and should be thinking of other things now.
For every Shane Warne taking up a place in the England counties, there's another young England player not getting experience at first class level. What on earth was Khan doing playing for Worcestershire for a whole year - what use is he to the England team? Answer, absolutely none.
Apart from the fact that overseas players are taking up a precious place in a county side, is the fact that they cause financial problems to county sides who don't have the money football clubs have.
I also don't want to see cricket go down the road of football - fantastic club sides made up entirely of overseas players, who then sod off to their own national teams come World Cup time, leaving the national England team absolutely nowhere because hardly any of the English players have had any first class experience.
I wish the ECB all the luck in trying to control this whole question of overseas and 'Kolpak' players.
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The Hampshire bowling was dreadful.Good class club cricketers would have bowled better than this.The game was over as a contest very early and Hampshire have only got themselves to blame.
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He is not at the end of his career mate. Need i remind you guys about the Ashes? His team lost a final so what, you win some you lose some. At the end of the day, he is Shane Warne. On his day, he can make pigs fly.
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Why not mention the Waugh twins? Is there some sort of story behind that? If anyone knows please explain.
Warne is a great competitor - more fire in the belly than some of the young guns at his age!
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A German passport = Front Page News?
Oh help!
We should be (in order of importance);
a) grateful that such a legend will be gracing our fields for another season;
b) embarrassed that our rule-making is so pathetic that it leaves such options open. Notwithstanding the more important point (a), why can we not make a rule that "does what it says on the tin"? and limits overseas players?
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Message to K:-
Remember Fawlty Towers? "Don't mention the war!" (Waugh)
I think its great that a true legend of cricket can still perform at the top level, and wants to play here. He lifts teams, and gives experience, and even helps people like Monty with their game, so the longer he can stay, the better really. However, the number of overseas players does need to be limited, to help future England players get the right experience in county dricket.
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I expect, now that Warne has made that remark about 'Adolf Warne', that the Germans would turn down his application for a passport anyway. They are understandably slightly sensitive about how their country is viewed. It seems that Warne has strayed well out of his depth on this issue.
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The germans can't turn down his application, regardless of anything he says. He is elligible for it, so he'll get it if he applies.
There is no point in complaining about foreigners keeping young englishmen out of the county sides and then parachuting foreigners into the test side. Warne is more german than Pietersen is english.
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That should have been "Warne is as german as Pietersen is english".
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There is only one Shane Warne. The best captain Australia never had. The finest legspinner we may ever see. Great is an overused word and has lost some of its meaning and lustre. But don't doubt that Shane Warne is a great bowler and thinker on the game.
We should be grateful he's going to play here next year. When the fixture lists are published, look to see if Hampshire are playing near to you, book the time off work, grab your camera and go see him play.
Love the Adolf Warne comment, btw. If he didn't make it then some hack or drunken supporters would have. It's nice to see someone who isn't braindead politically correct.
Love him or hate him he's still the GREAT Shane Warne.
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