Warne comeback confirmed at WACA

Champion Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne will make his comeback from a broken finger in a Mercantile Mutual Cup clash against the Western Warriors at the WACA Ground on Tuesday 2 January 2001.

Warne broke the ring finger on his right hand while taking a catch for Victoria against New South Wales in the Bushrangers' first Pura Cup match of the season in Melbourne late in October.

It will be Warne's third comeback from injury at the WACA. His most recent was in January when he played against India after missing the bulk of the 2000 Carlton and United Series with torn side muscles. In November 1998 he made his comeback from major shoulder surgery in a Sheffield Shield clash against the Western Warriors in Perth.

Western Warriors: Tom Moody (captain), Jo Angel, Ryan Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Kade Harvey, Brad Hogg, Mike Hussey, Brendon Julian, Stuart Karppinen, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Duncan Spencer.

Victorian Bushrangers: Paul Reiffel (captain), Darren Berry (vice-captain), Matthew Elliott, Damien Fleming, Peter Harper, Ian Harvey, Brad Hodge, Michael Klinger, Michael Lewis, Ben Oliver, Clinton Peake, Shane Warne.

Match details: Umpires: Keith Rinaldi, Bruce Bennett. Hours of play: 2.30pm-6pm, 6.45pm-10.15pm. Gates open 1.30pm. Tickets on sale at the gate (adults $8.50, children and concessions $4, family $17).