Shane Warne : retirement? caused by Muralitharan?

I think there has been a lot of talk behind closed doors about when certain team members will retire. Remember when Chappell, Marsh and Lillee retired at the same time? It took years for us to recover. I think the selectors have been talking to all the 'old' players in order to stagger their retirements.

Why did Martyn retire so suddenly? I don't think he was pushed but I think they have all been pressured to consider what is best for the future of Australian cricket.

For this reason I am certain McGrath won't retire this year because we need him for at least one or two more seasons. You watch, there will be gradual and regular retirements over the next three years which will give the new team members time to establish themselves one at a time.

To answer the question, Warne didn't retire because of Murali, I believe he retired because he wanted to leave as a legend and not as a has-been. No matter how many wickets he takes he will be overtaken by somebody in the future. I remember thinking that no-one could beat Courtney Walsh's record yet he is not fifth I think.

I think it is perfectly timed - best in the world, ashes winner, respected by everyone.

Maybe we should ask Warne that question but personally I think warne has timely retired at the top of his career, i do not rate Murali is a great bowler as warne because I think he chucks and he is being given the benefit of doubt by ICC which does nothing but make money

Warne is and will be for a long time the gretest cricketer that has lived, he wants to go out at the top and will, he will be leading wicket taker ever and will do it in an ashes victory at his home ground, what more could he want?yes murrali will over take him and is a fine bowler himself but i will ask this; how many catches has he took? how many times has he got 50 or 60 runs not out at the end of an innings? answer he hasn't, and they why warne is the greatest and murrali overall does not compare, warne is the complete cricketer.

ps great question and merry xmas

That is a stupid question, sorry to say that, but do you think the great Shane Warne retired because of the CHUCKER, your kidding right.

Shane retired, while he is still the best and in his own terms.Murli will take over as the leading wicket taker, but he will be always known as the CHUCKER.

Warne wanted to retire when he is flying high and thought victory in Ashes Series, which is the most prestigeous tournament for Australia will be the ideal opportunity for him to retire with grace. Next major tournament will be the World Cup. Since his performance in the ODI has not been outstanding as compared to Test Matches he may not get an ideal opportunity to retire with grace in future.

Even better question would have been if we place Murli in the Aussie team & Warne in the S.L. team, then see who would have taken more wickets. According to SL supporters Murli was a one man army & Warne had to share spoils with equally great McGrath, B.Lee & Gillespie and only the other leg-spinner suffered due to Warne's presence in the team (sorry forgot his name). I think Warne would have taken more than 1000 wickets then, had he played a lone hand. Numbers make Murli the no.1 wicket-taking bowler in the world & the best spinner as well. Personally liked Warne for his huge spinning deliveries & his charisma..

hmmm does warne care about murali's tarnished record? lets have a look shall we...

1. he chucks, they had to change the law to keep him in the game

2. his doosra is STILL ILLEGAL yet he STILL BOWLS IT. ie. he is a cheat

3. he has played 20 of 100 tests against zimbabwe/bangledesh, and warne has played 3 of 143 tests against these EASYBEAT sides, and when Murali plays them , he is bowling the whole match and takes all the wickets, in fact 137 in these 20 tests.

4. he plays on pitches in sri lanka doctored to suit him and him only. warne plays in aust where pitches are made for pace bowlers, with exception of SCG.

warne is miles ahead of murali, and the reason he retired is that he wants to reconcile with his ex-wife Simone, and he needs to be home to do that. and if you saw the press conference he said he would have retired after last years ashes but ausiies lost, so he stayed to help regain them, he has proved everything, australia have EVERY trophy the can possibly win in world cricket, and ... he wants to go out on top.

NO. A great player always retires in his prime. Warne knows it very well.

Don't think it had anything to do with it. He's only 37 and could have kept going if his main concern was a record number of wickets.

yes i think so

may warne want to leave cricket as the leading wicket taker.