With British Prime Minister Gordon Brown proposing a move allowing non-British athletes to be eligible for knighthoods, a raft of Australian cricketers would appear ripe for honours, headed up by Shane Warne. The former test wicket world record holder is excited by the possibility.
“When the Wisden five cricketers of the century came out, they were all ‘Sirs’ bar me,” Warne said. “I thought mine must have been lost in the post!”
Those cricketers being Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Viv Richards and Sir Jack Hobbs.
Warne took 708 wickets in a glittering test career, saving his best for matches against the mother country. However his off-field behaviour may be a stumbling block for a knighthood, in the same manner it cost him the test captaincy.
“Whatever happens, happens. I’m happy with my career. I’m not expecting the knighthood. It would be amazing, a huge honour if that ever happened, but I’m not expecting it,” Warne said.
Warne was in Perth for the opening of a sports bar, ahead of his debut as a Cricket Australia bowling coach. Warne will work with first class spinners around the nation in an effort to escalate the development of Australia’s slow bowling stocks.
“First of all, it’s to get them having a plan, performing, understanding their role with the captain. That’s what I’m going to try and do, and help them understand that process.”
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