Warne to retire after 2007 Ashes?

Shane Warne is likely to retire after the 2006-07 Ashes series as he wants to spend more time with his children, according to his brother Jason. He also added that Warne was keen to end his career in Australia and the Sydney Test could provide him an ideal occasion for him to end a glittering career.

"The Ashes in 2006-07 could be Shane's last series," Jason told The Sun Herald. "He's mentioned that during talks we've had about when he might retire. He's still really enjoying Test match cricket but that is a date he's talked about.

"If he didn't have kids, he might play forever, but he misses them a lot these days when Test tours take him away. That's becoming more of an issue for him. One of the big reasons he stopped playing one-day cricket for Australia was to cut down on the amount of travel he had to do, not so much cut down on his workload."

He also added that Warne was harbouring thoughts of playing in the 2007 World Cup, which could serve as his last one-day outing. Warne had earlier announced that he would quit one-day cricket after the World Cup in South Africa but he was eventually forced to miss the tournament after testing positive for a banned diuretic. "If the World Cup is coming around and the side doesn't have a permanent legspinner he could make himself available," Jason said. "When we're talking about finishing things on his terms, the World Cup obviously didn't work out that way last time. It's a possibility."

Sydney has provided the setting for many a famous Australian swansong: Rod Marsh, Dennis Lillee and Greg Chappell retired after the 1984 Test against Pakistan while Steve Waugh received an emotional farewell after the 2004 Test against India. "When he does finish, he wants it to be on his terms," Jason said. "That's the big thing. Finishing in Australia is definitely what he has in mind." If Warne chooses to finish at Sydney, it will almost be a completion of a cycle - he would end at the same venue where he made his debut 15 years earlier.