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Legend

Howzat for a comeback? Warne announces his return to cricket

Legendary Aussie bowler confirms that he’s coming out of retirement to play in this year’s Big Bash League.

SHANE WARNE IS getting ready for a return to the cricket crease — just six months after announcing that he was quitting the game forever.

The legendary spinner, 42, confirmed today that he has agreed a one-year deal to play for the Melbourne Stars in Australia’s revamped T20 tournament, the Big Bash League, which launches next month.

Warne’s return to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 17 December will mark his first competitive action on home soil since he bowed out against England in the final test of the 2006 Ashes.

After claiming his 1000th test wicket, the bowler called time on a remarkable international career but continued to captain the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League until last season.

His comeback, Stars president Eddie McGuire told Fox Sports today, will be the biggest thing to happen to cricket “since Kerry Packer and World Series Cricket revolutionised it in the 70s.”

But Warne insists that he’s not just there as a big-name attraction to make up the numbers.

I thought it was an opportunity where I could actually give something back to the game of cricket that has been so good to me.

I’m fitter than I’ve ever been and over the next sort of month or so I’m going to really get into the bowling and doing all those sorts of things with the Melbourne Stars.

Warne will suit up alongside English all-rounder Luke Wright who has signed up as one of the Melbourne club’s two permitted overseas players for the six-week seasonal tournament.

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