LONDON, Dec 22: Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove was delighted on Thursday by Shane Warne's announcement that although he was retiring from Test and Australian domestic cricket, he would see out the remaining two years of his contract with the English county.

Under Warne's captaincy, the south coast club have finished second and third in the first-class county championship during the past two seasons, the 37-year-old leg-spinner showing the leadership skills that many felt would have made him an ideal captain of Australia.

Warne, who has taken a world record 699 Test wickets, will retire from Test cricket at the end of the current Ashes series in Australia and Bransgrove said: “It is clear that Shane's retirement from the international game is a monumental loss to world cricket.

“At the same time, it is fantastic for Hampshire cricket and our supporters that he has chosen to see out his playing career at the Rose Bowl.

“Shane has been a cornerstone of the restructuring of Hampshire cricket over recent years that has seen the team develop into an attractive and seriously competitive unit.

“I never doubted his intentions to fulfil his contract with Hampshire and I know that I speak for all Hampshire fans when I congratulate him on his achievements to date and look forward to seeing him back at the Rose Bowl next year,” Bransgrove added.—AFP