Warne's family prepares to leave Australia

Shane Warne's permanent relocation to England has moved one step closer to fruition, with the news that his wife, Simone, and three children will be joining up with him in Southampton next week.

Back in March, the move had looked less than certain, when Simone told The Australian newspaper that she had no intention of leaving her home in Melbourne. Now however, she has been persuaded otherwise, and their children have already been taken out of their private schools.

"Simone has found a nice school for the kids [Brooke, Jack and Summer] in England. She's looking forward to it," a friend of the family told the Sunday Herald Sun. Their Victorian mansion, which boasts a tennis court, swimming pool and theatre, could fetch up to A$10 million if it was put on the market.

Warne is contracted to play for Hampshire as captain until 2008, and may look to buy a similar sized property in the county if the right opportunity arose.