SYDNEY, July 11: Australian cricket star Shane Warne on Monday spoke of the pain at the end of his 10-year marriage, but assured fans he would not allow his personal life to impact on his performance during the Ashes. Warne, 35, took responsibility for the failure of his marriage which has been blamed on several highly publicised dalliances with young women which reportedly occurred since he moved to England to play for county Hampshire three months ago.

“I do take responsibility for Simone and my separation,” Warne wrote in Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd. newspapers including Daily Telegraph.

“But the reasons behind it will remain private.”

The leg-spinner asked the media not to make life harder for his wife and three children who have returned to Australia.

“While we have separated I am very lucky that Simone and I remain such close and good friends,” Warne wrote.

But he added: “The day my wife and kids left to go back to Australia was especially tough.”

Warne said while the hype and expectation on him since he arrived in England had been “as big as I have experienced,” he was ready take some English wickets when he took his place in the Australian Test side to play in the Ashes.

“Over the years, one of my strengths as a cricketer has been my mental capacity to focus on the job at hand. As with many people, no matter what is going on in their private life, I have been able to focus on my job,” he wrote.

“This will not be any different. The first day at Lord’s will probably be one of the biggest cricketing days for years.

“I have never been on a side that has lost the Ashes and I will do everything in my power to keep the record that way.”—AFP