Warne unlikely to play in Ashes series
Posted: Friday December 18, 1998 03:09 PM
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Warne has not played a test for Australia since March after undergoing shoulder surgery Ben Radford/Allsport |
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- Shane Warne is almost certain to
miss the remaining two tests of the Ashes series with England
despite recovering from his shoulder injury, national selector
Allan Border said on Friday.
Border said Warne was improving steadily but was still well
short of his best form.
"He's probably just a few weeks from bowling somewhere near
his best so that will probably count him out of the test
series," Border said.
"It would have been nice for him to make his big entrance
at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) for the fairytale
comeback, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen."
Border said any pressure on Warne to make a hasty return had
been lifted after Australia retained the Ashes by winning the
third test in Adelaide.
Border also said the selectors were lucky to have such a
creditable replacement in leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.
Warne has not played a test for Australia since the third
match against India in March after undergoing shoulder surgery.
He returned to first-class cricket last month and will play
for Victoria against New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield match
starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
MacGill, who plays for New South Wales, withdrew from that
match on Friday because of a niggling hamstring injury but is
certain to be ready for the fourth test.
Warne was expected to make his test return in the fourth
Ashes test at the MCG starting on December 26.
If he misses that match, he is almost certain to miss the
fifth and final test which starts in Sydney on January 2.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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