Cricket World Cup: `Wait and see' Warne considers retirement

THERE WAS just the tiniest ripple in the pond of Australia's World Cup success yesterday evening, writes David Llewellyn. As the shadows were lengthening over Lord's Shane Warne, their man of the match in the final - as he had been in the semi-final - delivered a verbal googly about his future.

His second successive four-wicket haul, which took his total in the tournament to 20, wrapped up what had been for him "the most sensational week in my cricketing career."

That though capped a fairly turbulent six months for him, during which he had to cope with recovery from a major shoulder operation that threatened to end his career, and then had to field flak about payments he received from bookmakers for allegedly passing on information before Test matches.

He battled his way back to international status and form although he was omitted in the last Test against the West Indies in the winter. "It has been a pretty hectic six months," Warne admitted. "A lot of things have happened that I didn't expect. A lot of things have happened in my life that have been fantastic." Then came the downer. "Now I am just going to have a good few weeks with my family and see what happens from there."

His captain, Steve Waugh, would not try to stop him. "I would never force anyone to carry on if they wanted to stop," he said. "Warney and I have have gone through a lot of tough times together. But when someone feels the time is right it is their decision." Then he added: "I would love him to keep playing, but he has to be comfortable with what he is doing."

The motivation for Warne's hint on his future was probably better explained later when he added: "I didn't play in the last Test so maybe I am a one- day bowler." Selectors take note.

He is some one-day bowler, though, and he clearly has enjoyed the tournament the longer it has carried on, culminating in some pulsating matches, a few of which he has swung Australia's way.

"The week has been the best of our lives. The last couple of games we've played, the semi-final and the final, have been just about the best games I've been involved in."

Another man whose future was in doubt is Wasim Akram. The Pakistan captain had spoken of retiring if his team won the World Cup. Defeat may now get him pushed, but he said afterwards: "I think, the way I am bowling, I can play on for another year or two. The Pakistan team needs me and I need them."

His opposite number, Steve Waugh, looks fairly safe in the job for a while yet, despite hinting that he will not be around for the next World Cup. "I have really enjoyed the challenge since I took over. I feel I have improved as a captain," he said.

He has certainly brought a mental toughness to the side and reckons that is contagious. "Once you see one person coming through adversity and winning a game from nowhere then all other guys start to believe they can do it as well. Warney put his hand up in the semi-final and [yesterday] I thought everyone put their hand up."

And the rest of the world put their hands together for the worthy World Cup winners.