Warney Come Back, Your Country Sure Needs You

The Sunday Age

Sunday October 5, 2008

Darren Berry

Australia's dearth of spin talent has one obvious solution.

THE Border-Gavaskar trophy has become one of the most sought-after trophies in world cricket. In the Australian players' minds, it has drawn level with the Ashes as far as prestige goes. It begins this week in Bangalore and Australia has a serious problem. We are about to take on the Indians on their home soil without a recognised frontline spinner.

So at the risk of sounding a fraction deranged, it's time to send the SOS: forget the poker tournaments Warney, your country needs you in India.

It is radical, bloody oath it is, but why not? Shane Warne is, and always has been, a rough diamond. To throw him into the Bangalore Test with zero preparation is a much safer bet than nudging debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza out the door in hope.

Bryce McGain, the Victorian leggie, has sadly missed his chance. His shoulder injury has taken longer to mend than he anticipated and the fairytale may now never eventuate. Although he is clearly the best spinner in our country at the present, at 36 time is not exactly on his side.

Krejza will make his Test debut based on minimal first-class success; it will be a bold selection to say the least. If the warm-up match in Hyderabad is any indication, Australia could be in for a world of pain. Hope is a big punt to take against the best players of spin in the world.

If Australia is hellbent on retaining the coveted trophy, then it should make the call. Ricky Ponting is the man with the power. If he says we need Warne, or more importantly we want Warne, the poker player would be there in a flash, trust me on that one. The spin king has been out of the game for more than 18 months and to bring him back now would be desperate stuff. Desperate times require desperate measures.

Some may disagree but without Warne and his understudy Stuart MacGill, these are desperate times for Test quality spinners in Australia. This is not Bangladesh in Darwin; this is India with plenty of hard-nosed, experienced batsmen as well as a host of hot young talent with nimble feet, ready to fire.

If the home team is smart, Rohit Sharma, Subramaniam Badrinath, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli will be blooded during this series to prepare for the departures of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S.Laxman in the near future.

Warne's presence would change India's mindset.

Can one man really make such a difference in this scenario? You better believe it.

Although Warne's record in India is only modest by his lofty standards, his aura lives on. The recent Indian Premier League series was unbelievable on many fronts, but the highlight was watching at close quarters the spell Warne held over the cricket world.

With the occasional barb thrown his way about whether he would still cut the mustard, his response was that of a fierce competitor with plenty of fire in the belly. Nineteen wickets at 21 as well as some amazing catches and some uncharacteristic sensible batting told me that this genius may have drawn the curtain a fraction too soon.

It was not because he could not do it any more, but more so the constant travel and commitment required at international level had taken its toll. After 18 months out, I have no doubt he could pull on the creams and land them on a 20-cent piece without a problem. The magic is still there in his fingers, the blueprint embedded in his brain.

And send the two best spinning prospects on those tours with him. Bleed him for knowledge and allow him to teach them on the job. He is great at nurturing young talent.

Warne's freakish skill had little to do with constant practice, especially towards the end of his brilliant career. It was his rat cunning, bluff and technical brilliance that separated him from the mere mortals.

Cricket Australia needs to throw caution to the wind and dial the number. Send him to India and then extend the olive branch for the Ashes next winter. Allow him to rest up during the summer then unleash him one last time on the English. In between time, let him do what he wants, don't send him on fitness camps and team building sessions. It never worked when he was playing, so don't bother now.

Turn back the clock just this once and make a special condition for the greatest of all time.

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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