Shane Warne set to announce Test retirement

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Shane Warne will today announce his retirement from Test cricket.

The game's leading wicket-taker is expected to call the curtains on his remarkable career at a press conference, and announce he will bow out after the final Ashes Test against England in Sydney.

That will give Warne the chance to claim his 700th Test wicket at the Boxing Day Test before his home crowd in Melbourne, and then depart after the fifth Test at the SCG.

Warne, 37, has taken 699 wickets in 143 Test matches.

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath is also reportedly close to announcing his retirement, although it is unclear when he will do so and bow out.

McGrath, 36, has taken 555 wickets in 122 Tests.

The pending retirements of the two champion bowlers will mean Australian selectors will have to reshape the bowling attack earlier than they expected.

McGrath, 36, spent most of 2006 out of international cricket to be with wife Jane in her battle against cancer, and is also reportedly ready to call it quits after his home Test at the SCG.

News of the pair's pending retirements comes less than a fortnight after batsman Damien Martyn, 35, shocked his teammates by retiring, and leaves Australia's selectors with the tough task of rebuilding an attack set to lose its two spearheads.

Warne and McGrath have played 265 Tests matches between them and 102 together and have made a career of haunting England's batsmen.

The pair was part of the Australian side which surrendered the Ashes in 2005, but helped regain them just 15 months later, which will ensure they will go out on top.

However, that did not reduce the shock.

Warne has regularly said he would have loved to have returned to England in 2009, while McGrath recently spoke of how strong and fit he felt upon his return after nine months out of Test cricket.

Cricket Australia would not confirm reports of the pair's departures, while management for both bowlers could not be contacted.

The sudden departure of both players leaves Australia's selectors with the scenario they dreaded - having a group of senior players leaving at the same time.

Martyn has gone, Warne and McGrath are to follow, and opening batsmen Justin Langer, 36 and Matthew Hayden, 35, and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, 35, are also nearing the end of their careers.

Meanwhile, England will name its one-day squad for the triangular one-day series against Australia and New Zealand, which starts January 12.

Michael Vaughan is expected to be a part of that squad and most likely will resume as captain.

England and Australia won't train today in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test.
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:eek: :(
 
I wouldn't be surprised if McGrath gave up, he doesn't look the bowler he was and injuries are affecting him now, but I thought Warne would have carried on, as he's still got the touch, but now he's got the Ashes back, I think he feels the time is right.

He'll be a huge loss for Australia and cricket as a whole, was he the best bowler of all time, probably, and I feel lucky to have seen him a couple of times, he's a genius, pure and simple as that.

Us English will breathe a huge sigh of relief though. ;)
 
One of the cricket all time greats without a doubt, this will be such a massive loss to Australia.

I think McGrath will also follow once the ashes are over and I don't think the Australian team will be quite the same ever again. Will their era off domination be over? Lets hope so :p

I think their last batch of players who are nearing the end of their careers will probably try and remain there for the 2007 world cup and then after that they will go. Good news for the rest of the world :)
 
Doubt that Australian dominance will go with Warne and possibly McGrath... Yes they will miss them, they will especially miss Warne, an all time great....

But am sure someone else will come along sooner or later.
 
He's just confirmed it at a press conferance that he's retiring from international & Australian club cricket after the Sydney test.

But we can still see him as he's going to honour the last 2 years of his contract at Hampshire :)
 
Such a shame that 2 of the greatest bowlers ever to grace the cricket scene have finally decided to retire. Aussie cricket sure as hell wont be the same without them thats for sure and i guess England and the rest of the world can breathe a sigh of relief lol at the imminent departure of these 2 cricketing greats.

As for the Aussies suffering??, they might well do but then they probably have another Warne in the shadows...dont be surprised to find Warne as Aussie bowling coach therefore reaping more misery upon the rest of the world lol. As for MacGrath??, well Stuart Clark has already shown hes more than a capable replacement for MacGrath...gone quietly about getting lots of wickets...perhaps not in the blaze of glory that say Warne or MacGrath got theirs in but still an awesome bowler nonetheless. Although they got him into the team a bit too late but then competing for places against the old guard wasnt going to be easy.

Going to miss the both of them though thats for sure, i had the awesome pleasure of meeting Warne back in the summer here in Canary Wharf...was doing a book signing and had a chance to talk to him for a few mins...funny guy and very down to earth imho. But i gues the both of them getting the Ashes back means they can go their separate ways...sad day indeed for Aussie cricket.
 
I reckon McGrath will finish after we win the World Cup. We will suffer a little after they have left, any team would after losing the 1st and 3rd most succesful bowlers in the history of Test cricket.
 
Truly astonishing bowler and cricket will be a poorer place without him. Good news for England, although knowing the Aussies, they'll find a load of amazing youngsters to replace them :(
 
shame hes going... he may be the enemy but hes a legend and a great bowler to watch... i saw him take his 600th wicket... class moment
 
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