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Rediff.com  » Sports » I did it for my kids, says Warne

I did it for my kids, says Warne

By Jessica White
August 12, 2005 09:37 IST
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When Shane Warne made history with an unprecedented 600th Test wicket at Old Trafford on Thursday his first thought was for his daughter back home in Melbourne.

An emotional Warne celebrated the wicket in the third Test against England by throwing his arms in the air and kissing a white band on his right wrist -- a present from his eight-year-old daughter Brooke.

"It was an emotional one for me," said the game's greatest leg spinner. "When (estranged wife) Simone and my three children went home, my daughter Brooke said: 'You have to be strong, daddy' and gave me the wrist band.

"It just says 'strength' on it. She wears one and the other kids wear them. I spoke to them today and I said if it happens today, it's for you and Jackson and Summer."

Warne had England opener Marcus Trescothick caught behind on Thursday to end with one for 75 from 27 hard-working overs as England closed on 341 for five on a good batting wicket.

The Australian's three children went home last month with their mother after newspaper claims of infidelity contributed to the end of Warne's 10-year marriage.

The leg-spinner, who turns 36 on September 13, the day after the last scheduled day of the current Ashes series, said his cricketing future depended in part on what happened in his private life.

"To get to 600, no one's ever done that before and I feel pretty proud of that achievement," he said.

"When I got 300, (coach/mentor) Terry Jenner came out and said I would get to 600 and I said; 'Have you been drinking all day?'

"I have always said the enjoyment is the major thing. Once the enjoyment goes, I'll go... It also depends on my personal life and what happens there. I have to work on a few things there when I get home."

Warne's 600 wickets have come from 126 matches, including the current test. The next-best performer is Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan, who has 549 from 93 tests.

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Jessica White
Source: REUTERS
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