Warne Talks With England Selectors

Shane Warne has become an informal informant to England’s selectors who quiz him on the country’s spin stocks.

David Graveney, the chairman of the panel, told England’s Sunday Telegraph he had been asking Warne for information about who should be the back-up slow bowler for the tour to Sri Lanka.

“He sees a lot of players and has always been very good whenever Geoff Miller or I have asked questions, especially about England spinners,” Graveney told the paper. “He understands our predicament,” he added.

Warne, who has 35 County Championship wickets for Hampshire, told Graveney he had been impressed with his early encounters with Adil Rashid, the 19-year-old Yorkshire leg-spinner. “Like everyone else, we have spoken to him about Adil, and Shane thinks he has what it takes to play at the highest level,” Graveney said. “We have swapped telephone numbers and will stay in touch,” he added.

Graveney also spoke to Warne about Chris Tremlett, who made his Test debut against India at Lord’s this month. “It might have been Stuart Clark (the Australian bowler also at Hampshire) who suggested Chris shorten his run-up, but Shane seems to have had some input into making him think about his career,” Graveney said. “He made him question what he wanted to get out of the game and how far he wanted to go,” he added.

While Warne has been happy offering tips to England, his management team told the Australian he has not been chasing a job with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). He also has not signed with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) that has been chasing players for its Twenty20 competition.