Merlyn's maker meets Warne

Matthew Pryor, son of Henry - inventor of Merlyn, the spin machine which England used to combat Shane Warne (partially successful) and Muttiah Muralitharan (not at all successful) - was at The Rosebowl yesterday for the launch of Shane Warne's new business venture: PokerCricket.

He faced Warne in the nets for the first time, an interesting experience having only faced Warne's mechanical-double in the past. Our own Jenny Thompson was also at the day, and also faced Warne - the success of which we are yet to be privy to, but expect to hear about it on Cricinfo soon.

Warne’s first ball is a gentle leg break, which I mis-time back to him. But he is taking it easy and reacts too late as I come down to his second ball and drive him over his head for four. The third is, predictably, a faster leg break, which I cut to point for a single. The fourth I can see scrambling and hear fizzing with a little pique. It is the zipper but whizzes down the leg side.

The fifth, he sees me coming down the wicket and drifts a leg break outside leg stump, which I defend. The sixth is there to drive; it is juicy, it has got to go, but I must confess to getting underneath it a little. Fortunately, having pushed the field back, it lands safely for one at mid-on. England 1 Australia 0 and an early blow for the Ashes.

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