A SHANE Warne return to Test cricket "would be great for the Ashes", says ex-England captain Nasser Hussain.

Warne yesterday said he had "absolutely no doubt'' he could bowl successfully at Test level again and said while he was "very happily'' retired from international cricket, in light of Australia's bowling battle in Perth this week, the Victorian said if the call came from his best mate Clarke, he'd have to rethink.

Warne still a pup: Test cricket's oldest ever players

Warne was the nemesis of the England team from the moment his first ball in Ashes cricket bowled then captain Mike Gatting in 1993 in what was dubbed "the ball of the century".

It's unsurprising that when the 43-year-old who has taken 195 Ashes wickets at 23.25 makes suggestions of a return it would make headlines in Britain.

Hussain said if Warne was serious it would be up to him to make the next move, not Clarke.

"If Shane Warne makes his comeback in the first Test at Trent Bridge on July 10, you have to say it would be great for the Ashes," Hussain said.



"Warne is the greatest cricketer I ever played against, and he has never been anything less than absolutely box-office.



"Australia have tried 12 Test spinners since he quit at the end of the 2006-07 Ashes, and you know he'd get stuck in.



"He's fitter than he used to be and he hasn't lost that competitive edge. He wouldn't struggle with the mental side, either.



"If a mere mortal like me was thinking about a Test return in my 40s, I'd be worried about making a fool of myself."

Warne played down suggestions on Twitter this morning after talking extensively yesterday on the conditions it would take for him to make a comeback.

Warne, preparing for the Big Bash League opener on Friday night, said he was bowling as well as at any time since retiring from Test cricket in 2007.

"If your best friend says, 'Mate, I want you to seriously consider making a commitment to Australian cricket and coming back out of retirement', (to) make myself available for selection, that's a different scenario,'' Warne said.

"Especially with back-to-back Ashes coming up next year, it could be a 12-month thing where you take three spinners with you and say, 'Righto, work with these spinners and see how you go for 12 months.' That's a different kettle of fish.

"I'm definitely not asking for Michael Clarke to come out and say that - that's a different scenario.

"You asked me if I think I could still play international cricket if I wanted to just turn up, do my bowling and if the first Test match was in three weeks, do you think I could play, (then) I'd have no hesitation in saying yes - and I think I'd do pretty well.

"From a purely bowling perspective, I don't think my form would be the concern, it's just the time and actually making that commitment again.

"My kids are turning 16, 14 and 12 next year and we're juggling two continents, (wife-to-be) Elizabeth's (Hurley) work and my work commitments.

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"There's travel, sponsors, businesses, there are charities, so much stuff that I'd basically have to put it all on hold to make a commitment to international cricket.

"That's the reason I haven't for a while said I'm gonna make a comeback.

"For me it's not a matter of whether I could do it or not - I have absolutely no doubt if I wanted to commit to try to make a comeback and go through grade cricket, first-class cricket and try to get selected ... that I could do it."

media_camera Warnie weaves his magic against England in the 2006 Boxing Day Test.

Warne said he felt the urge during the third Test against South Africa in Perth watching the Australian bowling attack hammered around the WACA Ground.

"I felt like I wanted to jump off the couch and grab the ball,'' he said.

"I really felt for Michael Clarke from a captaincy point of view.

"When you've got international bowlers bowling one or two full-tosses an over and half-volleys, I felt for Pup, I really felt for him.''

Warne was delighted with his bowling at the MCG yesterday in the Stars' second practice match in as many days.

"The ball's coming out pretty good and I'm looking forward to fizzing them on Friday,'' he said.

"I think I'm bowling as good as I have for a long time - the best I have since I retired from international cricket in 2007.

"It's because I'm fresh. I don't bowl for 9-10 months of the year and bowl 5000 overs any more.

"My body's feeling fresh and strong and fit. My mind's fresh from it all and off the field is very happy, I'm content and looking forward to playing.''



Originally published as Warne back in British headlines