January 09, 2007	Tuesday	Zilhaj 18, 1427

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LONDON, Jan 8: Shane Warne said on Monday he would not be averse to helping England recover from their Ashes drubbing, after coach Duncan Fletcher said he would like to enlist the skills of the legendary spinner.

Writing in The Times, the champion leg-spinner said he had no specific plans on his future career after retiring from Test cricket at the end of Australia's 5-0 whitewash of England last week.

He admitted that the lure of the commentary box was “very attractive” but would love to stay in the game, preferably helping the Aussies remain at the top of the world game.

“Beyond that, I also want to make sure that cricket stays healthy worldwide. So I would not have a problem helping in England, New Zealand, South Africa or anywhere else,” he added. “We live on a small planet these days.”

But Warne, who admitted it was “strange” to refer to himself as “Shane Warne, the former Test cricketer”, said he had received no specific request from Fletcher or the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Warne, who bowed out having taken 708 Test wickets – 195 of them against England – said he retained a great affection for England, having played in the English league for Hampshire.

During his time there, he said he had helped a number of England bowlers informally, while England spinner Monty Panesar had sought his advice after the Fifth Test in Sydney last Friday.

“Of course, there is a big difference between an informal chat, where you wouldn't dream of asking for a cent, and actually being employed,” he wrote.

“I am not sure what Duncan has in mind, whether it is for me to go around the counties or for bowlers to come to see me at Hampshire.

“As a general comment, if I could help the cause of spin bowling, if I have the time and if it fits in with my family, then I would give it a lot of thought... Whatever I do, I want to do it properly.”

Fletcher, who is under fire in the aftermath of England's under-par performance in the Ashes, raised the prospect of Warne crossing cricket's great divide on Friday.

“I'd be happy with him to speak to anyone, there's no doubt about it,” he told reporters in Sydney.

Meanwhile, Warne has described how he wept as his marriage fell apart during the 2005 Ashes series over off-field romps with other women.

In a frank exchange with top British television interviewer Michael Parkinson, Warne admits the marriage break-up was his fault, Australian media reported on Monday ahead of the broadcast later in the day.

“There were times when I sat by myself and cried,” he told Parkinson.

“Some of the things that I've done and the mistakes I've made I'm not proud of, but it shows I'm human,” said the world's top Test wicket-taker.“If I had stopped and thought 'hang on a minute', I wouldn't have done it. But unfortunately I gave way to temptation.”

Warne said, however, he was proud of how he had handled the stress of the divorce during the Ashes campaign in England, in which Australia lost the treasured trophy for the first time in 18 years.

“I was quite proud of the way I handled the situation because it's never easy going through divorce.

“It's quite tough and I don't think that anyone realises how hard it is and all the things you have to go through when you go through divorce.

“But to do it so publicly was even harder and I think a lot of people were looking to me to fall to pieces and I wasn't going to do that.”

Warne said he had not ruled out reconciliation with his ex-wife, Simone.

“I haven't ruled out getting back together, but we both have to work out (whether) that's what we want.

“I don't think we want to get back for the wrong reasons. As I said, we've got three beautiful children together but we've both got to get back (together) because we both want to.”

Later in the interview for UKTV, Warne says: “I still love Simone, I still love my children.

“I'm a very good parent, I'm a good dad. I mightn't be the best husband, but I'm a good dad and if we can all work that out together and make that work, then great.”—AFP