SYDNEY: There was nothing coincidental about Shane Warne making his first appearance of the summer with the Australian team here at the SCG on Wednesday.

Fearing a spin ambush on their own turf in today’s World Cup semi-final against India, the Australian hierarchy put aside simmering tensions with Warne and asked him to provide batters with some eleventh hour practice.

Australia captain Clarke, who was among those to face Warne, said his team aren’t concerned about the percentage of Indian fans tipped to flock through the SCG gates on Thursday.

Still — as a precautionary measure perhaps — an SOS was put out to Warne, and the leg-spinning great answered the call.

That legendary amble to the crease was back on Wednesday as Warne bowled to his friend Clarke and other Australia batsmen during an expert net session designed to boost confidence against in-form Indian off-spinner Ravicha­ndran Ashwin.

Warne also tutored spinner Xavier Doherty, even though it appears certain selectors will overlook the Tasmanian for a three-pronged pace attack.

Asked by a fan if he might strap on the boots again for the semi, Warne said: “Yeah mate I’m ready to go … if I could move.”

Warne might not be as robust as he once was, but he was still effective — as James Faulkner found out when the spin king took his wicket to the cheers of the cricket-mad Indian fans watching from behind the nets.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2015

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