Warne ready for another Ashes campaign

Another Ashes battle beckons for Shane Warne © Getty Images

Shane Warne made a strong return in his first match of the season in Australia and then announced he was ready to turn it on again during the Ashes. Warne took 4 for 34 for St Kilda as they beat Footscray by 120 runs at Junction Oval before saying he was very happy with his bowling over the past six months.

"To be honest, I bowled probably the best I ever have for Hampshire," Warne said after the game. "The results weren't really there [during the county season in England], but they were in one-day cricket. I did exceptionally well in one-day cricket All the Hampshire boys reckon I'm going to have a big Ashes series and a big domestic home season here because I didn't have much luck during the county season."

Warne was the highest wicket-taker for Hampshire in the 2006 County Championship, but his 58 wickets came at 27 apiece, placing him fourth in the averages list. However, he was outstanding in the one-dayers, taking 23 in 12 games at an average of 14.21.

He also reiterated the fact he would not be playing one-day cricket in the domestic season, although he expressed his willingness to step in in case of an injury. "I'm not playing international cricket, and state cricket is all about producing players for international cricket," Warne said. "Why should I take up a spot when that spot could be taken by a young spinner or someone else they want to try or play?

"We've got a young captain, a young side, but there might be a time through the summer when Whitey [Cameron White] is with Australia A, or Hodgey [Brad Hodge]. We might have a few injuries and suddenly they might need me to play - then I'm happy to step in."

Looking ahead to the Ashes, Warne endorsed England's move to appoint Andrew Flintoff as the leader of the campaign. "It's an aggressive move to make him captain. I'm sure he will do a good job," Warne said. "I don't think it's a risk. You look at the candidates and I think he will need someone like Andrew Strauss. I think at times during the summer he will go to Andrew Strauss to work out what's the right time to bowl and those sorts of things. He [Strauss] can keep an eye on things while he's bowling. But I think it's a good move from England."