Spin legend Warne bows out

MUMBAI: Australian spin legend Shane Warne on Friday brought the curtain down on his stellar cricket career stretching over two
decades, bowing out with a final appearance in the Indian Premier League.

A capacity crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai witnessed Warne, captain of Rajasthan Royals, walk out for the toss for the last time and cheered the bowler who waved back sporting a broad smile.

The last chapter in the career of one of the game's finest ever players has been typical of Warne, with the Australian charming and shocking the Indian public during a frustrating final season in charge of the Rajasthan Royals.

On the field, the 41-year-old has struggled for rhythm with his bowling and has suffered the indignity of being repeatedly hit over the ropes by youngsters looking to make their mark in the money-spinning tournament.

And as with so much of his turbulent career, attention has often focused on his off-field exploits, including a bitter row with Rajasthan Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Dixit over a choice of wicket, which led to a fine this week of $50,000.

The bleach-blond bowler took the field for the last time Friday in an away game against the Mumbai Indians that pitted him against another icon of the modern cricket era -- 38-year-old Tendulkar.

The two players appeared to clash earlier in the season after the Indian batsman complained about the Rajasthan pitch, but the tension was laughed off by Warne, who insisted they were "mates".

After scripting a title triumph with a rag-tag team in the first edition of
the Twenty20 competition in 2008, Warne's final season as captain has offered few rewards, with the team failing to make the playoffs.

Despite the fizzle at the end of an explosive career, he will be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time -- and in the eyes of many second only to legendary batsman Don Bradman in Australian cricket.

Warne retired from international cricket in 2007 after resurrecting the art of leg-spin and becoming the first player to take 700 Test wickets.