The return of Warne would be the Aussie's winning hand (From Halesowen News)

The return of Warne would be the Aussie's winning hand

12:00pm Friday 14th November 2008

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Forget about the fact it’s 42 days to Christmas or 1,351 to the opening ceremony of the London Olympics there is only one date circled on my Freddie Flintoff 2009 calendar and that is 238 days away when the first ball is bowled in Swansea to launch the 2009 Ashes series.

Clashes between England and Australia in any sport are momentous occasions (of course discounting the current Rugby League World Cup shambles) but for me cricket is the top of the list and pulls the heart strings unlike any other.

Our summer sport made its way onto the front and back pages, even knocking football to the inside pages during the intense drama that was the 2005 series, which was finally won by England on a dark September evening in South London.

The sport had suffered from a lack of English superstars with Boycott, Botham and Gower being the names that came to mind to the man on the street but following the sensational series Flintoff, Kevin Pieterson and Michael Vaughan became our granny’s new heroes.

Going into the series both nations were flying high and were unquestionably the top two sides in the world but four years on the sides have hit the skids, lost key players and have been hit by a lack of form and a change in coach.

Austraila’s 2-0 defeat in India has been seen too many as the end of an Australian dynasty that has lasted for 15 years and incredibly a good winter for England could see them go into the opening test in the Principality next year as favourites.

With the Aussies bowling line-up looking as useful as a chocolate tea-pot recently in India there are sure to be many discussions down under on what the answer will be to ensure they hold onto that little urn they comprehensively won back with a 5-0 demolition of the Poms in 2007.

The answer is simple in my mind and that is the return of Shane Warne.

The greatest cricketer of his generation hung up his boots and flashy slacks at the end of the last Ashes series.

For many it was far too early but as Warne has proven throughout his unpredictable and unparalled career he does everything on his terms.

The incredible leg spinner loved nothing more than a bit of Pommy bashing with the ball or with his mouth and could it be the case he makes a sensational return to international cricket in a bid to shut up the English crowds he has such a love hate relationship with.

I’m sure the Australian cricket hierarchy will not be publicly begging the blonde bombshell to put his professional poker career to one side for three months next summer but behind closed doors I’d imagine the thought of having him back in the baggy green against the old enemy would be massive fillip to an under pressure team.

Being a patriotic Englishman I will be hoping and praying for an England win but to have an Ashes series without Warne is like having the Ten O’Clock News without Trevor McDonald.

Yes we know the time comes for us all to say farewell but for Warne could their yet be one final cameo before the curtain finally falls on the greatest cricketer of the last 40 years.

For me I hope his premature retirement was just a very good bluff that has got him into the professional poker ranks and one day soon he will show us his greatest hand of all, which is a return to the crease even if it is at our nation’s expense.

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Thank you to the players and staff of Curzon Ashton for beating Exeter City and therefore providing me with my one correct prediction out of three.

This week I was mulling over whether to ahve a punt on England’s Rugby League side to put their turmoils to one side and beat New Zealand in this weekend’s semi-final before going onto beat Australia on their own patch in the World Cup final but after at least two seconds thought I decided to give that one a miss.

My one prediction for the weekend is for Bolton Wanderers’ abrasive style of play to come up trumps at home to Liverpool this Saturday, especially if Jussi Jaaskelainen can keep up the heroics that kept out Hull City last week.