Warne too busy leading to think about coaching

Shane Warne has ruled out a coaching role in England because he will be too focussed on leading Hampshire this season. After retiring with 708 Test wickets in January, Warne said he would be concentrating only on playing for the county.

"I'm not even thinking about coaching at the moment," Warne said. "I have enough on my plate leading Hampshire."

However, Warne said he was happy to talk to anyone, especially young spinners. "I've never been one not to help other players if they feel I can help them," he said. "I talk to other spinners all the time, and I had a long chat with Monty Panesar last summer and I hope that helped him."

Warne told the BBC that with the likes of the England batsman Kevin Pietersen in the side Hampshire could win their first County Championship since 1973. "We're quietly confident we can go all the way," he said. "Obviously, every county thinks that at the start of the season but we believe we're one of the best sides in the competition."

Hampshire will also be able to call on Stuart Clark, the Australia fast bowler, when he arrives from World Cup duty. "He's a great asset," Warne said. "As a captain it's tremendous to have someone like him to throw the ball to and say: 'Get me a wicket.'"

The Championship starts on Wednesday and Warne is hoping that if England fail to make the World Cup semi-finals he can call on Pietersen immediately. "I'm not sure how long England will last in the World Cup, but I would be disappointed if players aren't available for their counties," Warne said. "Duncan Fletcher might not want them to play for their counties and ask for them to be rested. But the ECB pays their wages and I hope they would override him and order them to play.

"Having Kevin Pietersen around is going to help us, and I'm sure Lancashire think the same way about Freddie Flintoff and Saj Mahmood. Everyone likes to see England do well, and they may sneak into the semi-finals and hit form at the right time. But there's part of me that wants to see them get knocked out so it makes Pietersen available for us."