Warne makes a fence-mending gesture

Ace Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, in a fence-mending gesture, has invited the two teenagers, who sparked a row with him when they photographed him smoking, to witness the on-going second Test match between New Zealand and Australia at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, it is reliably learnt.

Warne, the Australian vice-captain has provided two free tickets to Daniel Bassett and Shannon Nigingale (both 15). The duo took photographs of a few Australian players playing cards during the one-day match at Wellington's new WestpacTrust Stadium last month.

Warne was reported to have entered into a heated argument with both following his photograph with a cigarette in his mouth. Warne was paid handsomely last year to wear anti-smoking patches. The security guard and police intervened before Warne demanded the camera. Warne issued an invitation to both following a public outcry over his alleged abuse. He is believed to have apologised for his behaviour.

Efforts by this correspondent to contact Warne in his hotel room on Saturday night (James Cook Centra Hotel in Wellington) didn't yield any results as Australian manager Steve Bernard is believed to have left instructions with the hotel staff not to allow calls to the players for the rest of the tour. Warne is believed to have revealed to the team management that he had become the target of a harassment campaign from New Zealand fans and radio stations in the latest saga of a souring Australian tour. Warne said he had been targeted by hoax callers and had been woken on two occasions by prank calls from NZ breakfast radio disc jockeys.

In Wellington, Warne went live on air after being woken on the morning of the first one-day international last month. Another announcer insulted Warne on air when he couldn't get his call through to him. In Dunedin, a similar phone call was made to Warne's room at 7.25 am with the two announcers discussing who would speak to Warne first. Warne has been subjected to baiting and harassment since his arrival.

Warne was upset on seeing a large banner-"Warne's a Homo" at Carisbrook. A few Australian team members were abused verbally by several youths when they drove to a McDonald's restaurant near the team hotel before midnight to have a meal after their game.