Warne retires from first-class cricket

Shane Warne has retired from first-class cricket, announcing that he won't be taking up his contract to captain English county side Hampshire this coming season.

The former Australia legspinner retired from Test cricket in January 2007 as the sport's leading wicket taker and had been set to return to Hampshire after playing in the Indian Premier League.

But Warne, who was bought for $US450,000 ($A490,000) by the Rajasthan Royals in this month's IPL player auction, has decided against the move so he can concentrate on a poker career and his children.

"I am retiring from all first class cricket but will participate in the IPL (Indian Premier League) with the Jaipur franchise as captain and coach," he told the Hampshire website (www.rosebowlplc.com).

Warne, who took 708 wickets in 145 Tests following his 1992 debut, was going to play for Hampshire again this season but the county club's chairman, Rod Bransgrove, said the two parties had mutually agreed to a parting of the ways.

"I know this will be a major disappointment to many fans of both Hampshire and Shane but, after much discussion and soul-searching, it has become clear to both of us that Shane can no longer make the commitment required to continue to lead Hampshire," he said.

"Hampshire Cricket has been hugely privileged to have enjoyed the unstinting loyalty of this living legend since 2000. The most effective and entertaining bowler of all time, Shane Warne was also a brilliant leader and strategist."

Warne added: "This was not an easy decision to make but due to some exciting business opportunities, and wanting to spend more time with my children, I had to make this call."

Warne finished his career with a world record 708 Test wickets and more than 1,000 in the international arena, although his Test mark was eclipsed by Sri Lanka offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan last December.

He wound up his Test career with a 5-0 Ashes series sweep of England, 14 years after his first ball in the biennial series - the "Ball of the Century" to bowl Mike Gatting in England in 1993 - launched him to international fame.</p>