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Enter the slider as slim-line Warne rises to challenge

Angus Fraser
Wednesday 06 November 2002 01:00 GMT
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No bowler has conceded more runs against England in the last decade than Shane Warne and on the last Ashes tour of Australia four years ago his two wickets cost 55 runs apiece.

These may be crumbs of encouragement for the England captain, Nasser Hussain, as he prepares his side to take on the game's greatest spinner, but sadly they are all they have. Steve Waugh and Glenn McGrath have scored runs and taken wickets in Ashes contests but the genius of Warne has undoubtedly been the main reason why England failed to come close to regaining that little urn during the 1990s.

With the ability to keep it tight or to attack, depending on the conditions and the state of the game, Warne is a captain's dream. Waugh can bring him on to bowl whenever he wants knowing that he will be effective and unlike a conventional finger spinner, Warne will turn the ball on the first morning of a game even if the pitch is green and the seamers are supposed to be doing their job.

It all started at Old Trafford in 1993 with his first ball in Ashes cricket. Since then the delivery has become legend. Mike Gatting looked on in disbelief as a vicious leg-spinner pitched outside leg and clipped the top of his off-stump. It was his first wicket against England and he has not looked back; he appears to have saved his best for Australia's bitter rivals.

During 23 Tests against the old enemy his grip on English batting has been vice-like and his 118-wicket haul more than makes up for the 2,693 runs he has conceded.

"England against Australia series are always something special," the 33-year-old said. "Some say that because England have not played that well against us and haven't won a series for a long time that there is something missing. I totally disagree.

"I know how I feel going into any series and the Ashes to me is always the pinnacle. Because it is the best I always seem to be able to find that something extra deep down. It is because of the history and tradition between the two countries."

In that 1993 series he took 34 wickets in six Tests, but his best bowling display to date came 18 months later in Brisbane. At the venue of the first Test he took career-best figures of 8 for 71 against England and since then The Gabba has been Warne's favourite hunting ground. "I love playing here," he said. "It is the ground where I have had the most success for Australia and I think it is the best cricket wicket we play on because it gives everyone a chance."

Having taken 47 wickets in seven Tests it is easy to see why Warne has such affection for this piece of Queensland turf and he enters the match in the form of his life.

Credit goes to the fact that he is lighter now than at any stage of his career. Over the last few years Warne's weight has fluctuated like a share index but, after receiving public criticism over his level of fitness from the Australian coach, John Buchanan, he has shed 10kg and looks like he could go on playing for another 10 years.

For a man who had taken 400 Test wickets, despite not being one of sport's greatest athletes, this was a magnificent achievement but spinners have long had an ability to reinvent themselves.

Slow bowlers are canny creatures, unlike pace men who can bully the batsman with bouncers and aggression. Spinners deal in slight of hand, mind games and mystery rather than brute strength and ignorance. No one does it better than Warne. With blond hair, blue eyes and a diamond in his ear, he gives a wink of the eye as he talks about his latest delivery and,coincidence or not, it always seems to happen when England are in town.

In 1994-95 it was the zooter and this year it is the slider but, whatever it is and whatever it does, it worked in Pakistan where he took 27 wickets in three Tests.

"I do not have a new delivery but I have developed a slider over the past 12 to 18 months," Warne said, attempting to play down the hype. "It came out well in Sharjah where the pitches were low and slow, and there might be a couple in Australia where it may be just as effective.

"The most important thing, though, is that I am bowling well. A lot of people ask me whether it is coming out like in '94 or '96-97, but as far as I am concerned I am bowling as well as I have ever done. Until 18 months ago I had injuries to contend with, which made my bowling inconsistent. Now they have gone I am back to where I was just after I first started."

Looking forward to tomorrow's contest, he finished by saying: "I especially enjoy the little battles of playing against England. They know how I bowl and I know how they bat. There are no tricks. It is just who can execute their game better and who has the most patience."

Unfortunately for England, patience has been one of the secrets of Warne's recent success.

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