Warne lashes out at ban on training

Shane Warne has vented his righteous anger again, speaking out against the ban on training imposed on him by Cricket Australia. Warne was served a one-year ban from playing cricket in February for using a diuretic which was banned for the role it plays in masking the use of performance enhancing drugs. He had subsequently wanted to play charity matches and train with his state and national teams, but it was since clarified that both of those were also out of bounds.

"The whole situation has become a farce," said Warne. "They are not only penalising the charity that I could be playing for, but also penalising the younger players I have been helping, such as Cameron White, a young leggie I know I can help. I'm not allowed to attend any official training with anyone at any level."

Warne's altruism would certainly be attested to by his mobile phone service providers. He was recently accused by a South African lady, Helen Cohen Alon, of sending her a barrage of lewd text messages. He fled Australia for England a week ago when a Melbourne stripper revealed the details of an affair she had with Warne - his mobile phone, once again, played an important part. However Warne, writing in a column for Herald Sun, made it clear where his priorities lay.

"I also don't normally reflect on the past but in the current situation it has been necessary to do so," he wrote. "Some people say there is always some good to come out of any situation. I believe this is true and in my case, it has been to re-evaluate where I am at in my life and what's important to me. Let me tell you, it's an easy decision. It's my family by a long way."

Warne also wrote that he was determined to break back into the Australian team at the end of his ban. He clarified that he was only doing this for the sake of "those who have supported me over the years".