Star legspinner Shane Warne today announced his retirement from International
and Australian Cricket at the end of the current Ashes series against England.
The 37-year-old Australian legspinner, test cricket's leading
wicket taker with 699 dismissals, made the announcement on Thursday at the Melbourne
Cricket Ground.
Talking to reporters here, the Spin King said, "I'm going
to announce my retirement from international cricket, domestic cricket, Victoria
and Saint Kilda as well."
"It's been unbelievable -- my journey and my ride in international
cricket has been phenomenal," Warne, world’s highest wicket taker
said.
Warne said he would see out the remaining two years of his
contract with English county side Hampshire.
He said he felt ready to retire at the end of the current Ashes series, which
Australia clinched with an unassailable 3-0 lead last week to regain international
cricket’s oldest trophy after a shock loss to England last year.
"For me, it was a mission to get that urn back," he said.
"My time is now," he said. "I couldn't have asked for things
to go any better.
"I'm a very happy man. I probably would have retired after the 2005 ashes
had we won, but that was not to be. There was unfinished business."
|
