Warne reveals Botham plea to continue

LONDON—Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has revealed that England legend Ian Botham was among those who had tried to talk him out of retiring.
Warne, 37, announced Thursday he will quit international cricket after the final Test against England following Australia’s Ashes-winning victory in Perth.
“A few people tried to talk me out of it. Ian Botham was one. He told me I’m still at the top of my game, that I’m the greatest cricketer that ever lived and that people in England would love to see me play in the Ashes series in 2009,” Warne wrote in his column in The Times on Friday.
“Ricky Ponting (Australia captain), whom I told after we’d won in Perth, was a bit shocked but said he respected my decision. I had actually had a chat with him about it before the Brisbane Test so he already had an inkling about my intentions.
“I also shared a beer with Ian Chappell (former Australia captain), whose opinion I greatly respect. He said it was better to be asked ‘why are you’ rather than ‘why don’t you’.”
Warne has no regrets about his decision. He said: “I’m happy. It’s good to be leaving Australian cricket in such a healthy state. “I’m looking forward to playing again for Hampshire both next year and in the 2008 season.
“I don’t think I could give up the game totally yet and I signed a three-year contract last year that I always intended to honour.” Warned admitted that he would have continued playing if Australia had lost international cricket’s oldest trophy again. “Had we not won the Ashes this time round, I can safely say I would not be retiring,” he said. “I would have played on until 2009 and gone to England that year to try to get the urn back.
“The Ashes means that much to me - they are special. I grew up watching Ashes cricket and dreaming I’d be part of it one day. It’s been good going to India and other places, but I’ve always really enjoyed playing against England. Australia against England is what it’s all about.” “A lot of people said to me over the years that you know when your time’s up, but I doubted what they meant. Now I understand exactly. “I just know it’s the right time, even though I’ll miss playing for Australia, Victoria and St Kilda, my club.
“But just as I’ve missed playing one-day international cricket since I retired four years ago, I knew it was the right decision then. In doing so, I helped prolong my Test career. “As my final Melbourne Test gets closer, it’s amazing how it’s all worked out, with me needing just the one more wicket for 700 in Tests. “It’ll be a chance for me to say thank you to the Victorian cricketing public who’ve given me such great support over the years.
“It was at the MCG 14 years ago that I finally knew I belonged in Test cricket when I took seven for 52 to help us beat the West Indies. Since then, it’s been a wonderful ride - I really could not have scripted it any better”.—Agencies