'My Time Is Now'

Shane Warne, Test cricket's most successful bowler and one of the mostcontroversial players off the field, will retire from the international stagenext month, bringing the curtains down on a glittering 15-year career whichbegan against India.

The talismanic leg-spinner, who mesmerised batsmen the world over but did notenjoy a high success rate against the Indians, formally announced his decisionto quit Test cricket at a press conference in Melbourne today.

"I just know it's my time. I would like to go out on top. I would liketo go out on my terms...," an emotional Warne, regarded as one of thegreatest spinners in the history of the game, said.

"It's been unbelievable -- my journey and my ride in internationalcricket has been phenomenal."

Warne, who has 699 wickets from 143 Tests, is expected to reach the700-milestone when he bids farewell to an army of hometown Melbourne fans at thefourth Ashes Test to be held early next week. The Sydney Test (Jan 2-6) will bethe swansong to his illustrious Test career.

Warne, however, said that he would continue to play for English county sideHampshire for the remaining two years of his contract.

The charismatic Australian said it was time to go after playing a pivotalrole in regaining the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead last week after ashock loss in England last year.

"I'm a very happy man. I probably would have retired after the 2005Ashes had we won, but that was not to be. There was unfinished business."

"For me, it was a mission to get that urn back," Warne said.

"My time is now. I don't think I could have written the script anybetter," the 37-year-old spin wizard said.

Warne said he had discussed his decision to retire with captain Ricky Pontingafter the Perth Test. He said that he wanted to leave the game at the height ofpowers and go "on my terms". As for his future, he said he wouldconsider it over some "quiet beers and a few smokes".

"I don't know what the future holds ... There are a lot of things Iwould like to do. I've got two Test matches to play, then I will sit back."

Warne, the only current player to be included in Wisden's top five cricketersof the 20th century, also said that when he told his children of his plans, theybecame concerned that his departure from the game included their games ofbackyard cricket and he had to assure them otherwise.

Warne said this month's stunning fifth-day comeback victory over England inthe second Test at Adelaide helped him leave cricket while on the top of hisgame.

"Adelaide did that -- I think that is the best Test match I've everplayed in," he said.

"I've given everything I possibly could to the cause, and that waswinning. Cricket to me is my hobby, my passion and I love doing it. Yeah, I'llprobably miss it... I've missed one-day internationals for the last fouryears."

Warne said he was honoured to have played in a champion Australian side andfelt he had contributed in some way to make the game more watchable.

"I sit here today (amidst) every single trophy that's available ininternational cricket ... And I like to think that I've played my part inhelping those trophies get into Cricket Australia," the leg-spinner said.

"People have turned up, I like to think that I've given thementertainment and I've tried my guts out every single time. As a whole, I thinkI've made cricket more fun," he said.

"I don't think I could have given any more to Australian cricket. I'vegiven everything to the game."

To end his career at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the venue for his Test debutin 1991-92, would be a great feeling, Warne said.

"To have an opportunity to walk off in Sydney where it all began a longtime ago I think is a great opportunity and something to celebrate," hesaid.

Warne captured international limelight for the first time in 1993, when heproduced what has been acclaimed as the "Ball of the Century" to bowlEngland's Mike Gatting with his first ever Ashes delivery.

Since then, Warne has been the world's premier bowler. He has held the recordfor the highest number of Test wickets since October 2004. In August 2005, hebecame the first man to reach 600 Test wickets.

PTI