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Shane Warne changes nationality?
Well, here's a bit of a shocker. Doing my normal evening thing, fiddling around in the kitchen getting ready for supper, I had the wireless on, and discovered to my absolute astonishment that Shane Warne - hero to many, including now the Rose Bowl afficianados, that Herr Warne is looking to change his nationality! He wants to be German, and of course this is the nation of his mother's birth, so why not?
Well, first of all, he's a proud Australian - a man of Melbourne, and one who not only has been proud to represent his country at the cricket, but came damn close to saving the 2005 Ashes for them. So why would he seek to relinquish his passport? Has he discovered a deep and overwhelming feeling for Wagner and The Ring Cycle? This is possible and I'm sure others could raise a quip or two about that.
Or is it that he is so genuinely in love with Hampshire that he wishes to free them up to bring in another Overseas player? Because if Warnie goes German - he'll be a local and they can buy in another world-class international player.
{Image: Getty] [mimitig]
August 17, 2007 in Australian cricket, County Cricket - 2007, English cricket, General musings, News Pavilion | Permalink | 
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Comments
Teufel!
Posted by: The Tooting Trumpet | 17 Aug 2007 19:52:26
Currently laughing out loud at PA's headline - "Warne plans Herr replacement".
Posted by: Carrie | 17 Aug 2007 20:11:36
Brilliant!
Posted by: The Tooting Trumpet | 17 Aug 2007 20:52:57
I think he's pushing for some sort of dual citizenship thing - if that is able to be done. Nothing's confirmed yet (from what I've heard) but he & Hampshire are looking into the issue to see what they can get away with.
Posted by: CurryCricketer | 18 Aug 2007 02:15:03
Has it occured that he is sick of paying tax in two countries? Half of every pound earned in the UK is taken by the Australian taxman. It's always irked him but he was happy to be slugged twice for the privelege of wearing the Baggygreen. So rather than some affection for Hampshire I'd suggest it is a method of ensuring that the money Shane earns stays in Simone's purse.
Posted by: nesta | 18 Aug 2007 02:59:21
After reading a little more about this it seems that Shane and Hampshire have found a loophole in the overseas player rules and intend to exploit it. One less Englishman playing county cricket will be the result.
That's a good thing?
I'd think it is if an Australian on the fringe of international selection takes the soon to be open international player spot.
If and when this happens then obviously there is an Englishman currently playing first class cricket at Hampshire that will find himself playing in the Second XI.
Warnie sure is an excellent con-man. He is helping to white-ant ENglish cricket and comes out a hero. He's bowled the lot of you a flipper. Or is it a zooter. I could never tell the difference.
And by the way, only one overseas player played in Australian first-class cricket last year. Murray Goodwin and that's only because he sought asylum from the nation of his birth and settled in Perth.
Posted by: nesta | 18 Aug 2007 05:21:42
I was called away before I finished so continuing...
mimi, you mention that Warnie almost came "close to saving the 2005 Ashes" as some sort of achievement. Is there some irony or satire that I am failing to comprehend?
Shane won The Ashes in 93, 95, 97, 99, 01, 03 and 07. He is one of Wisden's five players of the 20th Century and the only specialist bowler. He has the most wickets of all time in Tests. He is without doubt the greatest wrist spnner the world has seen. And you mention one of the few failures in his glittering career. Why the parochialism?
Posted by: nesta | 18 Aug 2007 06:43:38
This story is so out of left field that I rang Warne's management in Melbourne.
This is what Brendan, the bloke who answered the phone said when asked if this story was fair dinkum.
"It won't happen mate. Shane's just keeping the boss happy at Hampshire and is annoyed that this has come out the day before the final at Lords. It was discussed weeks ago and he told the club he'd consider it. They have changed the rules concerning overseas players and Hampshire are trying to find a way to get around them."
I then asked if he knew that Warnie's mum was German. He laughed out loud and said, " She wouldn't know a bratwurst from a frankfurt, mate. Look it's all a big joke. Have a good weekend, see ya later."
Before he hung up I asked if he ever read The Googly. To my astonishment he said, "I have mate. It's mostly gossip written by shielas, isn't it?
What about the Australian column, the Thunder? I blurted. he replied, "Aw, you go alright mate. Keep sticking it up them. Gotta go." He then hung up.
So there you have it straight from the sources mouth.
Posted by: nesta | 18 Aug 2007 07:34:36
I'm all for Kolpaks - non-English, but non-overseas players in the county game. Warne, so I understand, would play as a Kolpak, thus allowing Stuart Clark to play as an overseas player (it's one overseas per team next year).
One of the reasons I rate Joe Denly is that he carried his bate against Warne and Clark. The more our young players have the chance to play against and with the likes of Warne, the better it is for Engliash cricket. The argument about "being blocked" doesn't hold - they'll get in their own team if good enough, or switch counties (like Doshi and Ambrose).
Posted by: The Tooting Trumpet | 18 Aug 2007 07:39:00
Nesta - That Brendan guy. He's not Barry McKenzie in thin disguise is he?
Posted by: The Tooting Trumpet | 18 Aug 2007 07:41:05
Toots,
He may well be. Why don't you call him yourself.
61 3 9598 7420
I'm sure he'd love to answer some questions about himself rather than Shane.
And on the Kolpak issue. Hampshire are just trying to bend the rules in their favour to gain an advantage. I'd reckon the other counties would not be too impressed with these developments.
It's all a storm in a teacup anyway. Warne would have to rescind his Aussie citizenship and that I have been informed is not going to happen. It still may if the price is right and he gets a guarantee that he can have his birth rights reinstated after retirement.
Am I correct in asuming that you are against the new one overseas player rule? Your argument above would indicate you are.
Posted by: nesta | 18 Aug 2007 08:06:00
Nesta - Warne has just been interviewed on the BBC saying, "Aw look mate, if we can work within the law to our advantage, we'll have a look at it. It's nothing at the moment - just a thought". (He then added - somewhat superfluously). "I'm an Australian".
So not quite a denial. And it's a route plenty have taken.
Whilst we have 18 First Class counties and four tournaments, I'm definitely for two overseas players. If we went down to 12 counties, or two tournaments, I'd go for one overseas player. Players like Murray Goodwin and Jacques Rudolph have really adorned the county game as Kolpaks and helped our young players.
Whether it's good for world cricket, is another matter.
Posted by: The Tooting Trumpet | 18 Aug 2007 10:42:22
Australians playing in England doesn't harm Australian cricket. Perhaps it's an effect of my optimistic mood but I can find no negatives for world cricket. Which countries are negatively affected? And how?
And your BBC quote sits very nicely with what Brendan relayed, "Shane's just keeping the boss happy at Hampshire".
The story in Australia has received scant comedic coverage and appeared this morning in the satirical Saturday sports columns. Basically everyone's laughing and if Warnie wants to give up his citizenship to be a German good luck to him I say. We don't need him anymore. On the positive it will provide material for comedians for years to come.
The reason I can't see it happening is because Shane is not a mercenary. And that is how it would be seriously viewed here. Honestly, the government might not give him the emu and kangaroo back upon retirement. They could make an example of him.
Not everyone loves Warnie and he can no longer win Test matches to gain forgiveness for his perceived sins. Changing nationalities to suit wouldn't sit well with the general Australian population. Of that I am sure. It's a risky venture and I am sure Shane knows it.
No doubt it will be grossly over-simplified by the press in Oz to this simple equation. What is more dear to you Shane, the Hampshire CC or Australia?
Poor Shane. His boss has dropped in the muck neck deep. I doubt that Warnie could find Berlin and Hamburg on a map.
With Shane anything is possible but I cannot envision him handing in the passport.
Posted by: nesta | 18 Aug 2007 12:14:47
There's a lot of Zim players (like Ervine playing for Warne today) whom I would prefer to see playing International cricket, but I guess they're a special case.
Jacques Rudolph giving up his right to play for the Saffers caused some intake of breath, but the show will really pinch when a player in their late twenties gets a six year deal and good money (kids in a good school etc) and packs up International cricket to play for a county. I'm not saying he would, but Dwayne Bravo is the kind of guy I'm thinking of - it's usually possible to get some kind of passport and become a Kolpak (unless you're Ian Harvey, the treatment of whom brings shame on my country).
It's certainly possible that Shane could spin the passport issue (wife and kids to think of, mead welcome, still an Aussie in all but passport etc) and, if he does take it and gets ostracised by the Aussies (and I fully understand why), his hand would be bitten off by English cricket with sponsors and administrators falling over themselves to give him a job. I honestly think that we would be England Head Coach within two years if he really wanted it.
Posted by: The Tooting Trumpet | 18 Aug 2007 14:02:09
The chairman (?) of Hampshire, interviewed on the radio at lunchtime today, said it all started as a joking discussion over a drink and was never taken seriously. It sounded very much as if said chairman was the one who mentioned the story to a journo in order to pick up a bit of publicity for Hampshire before today's FPT Final.
In which Hampshire are up against it, at the moment. Unless KP does something really, really special.
Posted by: Zeph | 18 Aug 2007 15:15:36
Ottis Gibson is having a bit of a day and indeed, a bit of a season.
Nous is a handy thing in cricket - England could do with some.
Posted by: The Tooting Trumpet | 18 Aug 2007 16:36:11
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