Sport | Cricket
Ponting rules out Warne's return
Australian captain Ricky Ponting feels that spin-wizard Shane Warne is bowling as well as ever but doesn't believe the leg spin king is plotting a Test comeback for next year's Ashes.
- IANS
- Published: 00:15 May 21, 2008
Melbourne: Australian captain Ricky Ponting feels that spin-wizard Shane Warne is bowling as well as ever but doesn't believe the leg spin king is plotting a Test comeback for next year's Ashes.
Warne's fabulous return in the Indian Premier League - 14 wickets at 18.78 - has sparked a frenzy of interest as to whether he could make an incredible 2009 Ashes return in his favourite hunting ground England.
However, Ponting is virtually certain Australia has seen the last of Warne. The Test skipper has endorsed Stuart MacGill, fresh from taking 4/79 and 3/50 in a tour match against a Jamaican XI in the West Indies, as Australia's probable 2009 Ashes spinner.
"If his body stays right there is no doubt that he is the best wicket-taking spinner in Australia," Ponting was quoted by The Australian yesterday. "So if he keeps himself fit and has the desire and passion to keep playing cricket then I'm pretty sure he would be good enough to get the Ashes' job done."
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