SYDNEY, Jan 8: Australian bowling great Shane Warne apologised on Tuesday for the foul-mouthed Twenty20 confrontation that earned him a ban and a fine, and said he hoped he had not tarnished his legacy in the sport.

Warne admitted he had gone too far in his on-field row with West Indian batsman Marlon Samuels in Australia's Big Bash League but defended his right to show ‘emotion and passion’.

“I'm very passionate when I play the game. I overstepped the line and hence I'm missing a game,” Warne, 43, told Australian broadcaster Fox Sports.

“I thought it was a pretty harsh penalty but I was more disappointed in my own actions, especially as a captain.

“It was emotion and passion. We sometimes like to see that in sportsmen and not robots.

“I apologise to the fans and I apologise to everyone. Sitting and doing detention, it's not easy to watch the boys.”—AFP