Warne bowled over by musical

Canberra: Former Australian cricket star Shane Warne, who likens his turbulent personal life to a soap opera, has been won over by a new musical play based on his antics on and off the field.

Warne is the subject of Shane Warne: The Musical, which opened in his home-town of Melbourne and takes a light-hearted look at his life, including notorious text messages to and from female admirers, his infidelities on tour, and the well-publicised break up of his marriage to wife Simone.

In a review of the show published in Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper, Shane Warne the man said he was more than a little bit apprehensive about seeing his life put to song.

He wrote, "I am suddenly nervous. More edgy than facing Pakistani quickie Shoaib Akhtar on a green deck."

Critics have praised the show, which features a scene with Warne struggling to keep up with a stream of text messages while he shops with his wife, and its creator and star Eddie Perfect.

Warne, who says he is the subject of 13 unauthorised biographies, was initially nervous about how the show would portray his mother and his ex-wife, but he was eventually coaxed into seeing the musical and judging for himself.

He confessed to laughing along to some of the scenes, but was worried when the show turned to some of his high-profile scandals. Warne also said some parts were not entirely accurate, but gave the show his blessing.