Post by Imy on Aug 17, 2007 19:16:50 GMT
Warne ponders German passport bid
Warne revealed his surprise move on the eve of the FP Trophy final
Test great Shane Warne is investigating whether he qualifies for a German passport so he can play county cricket in England as a non-overseas player.
"My Mum was German. She came over to Australia when she was, I think, four or five," he told BBC Sport.
"With only one overseas [player] next year, it's something we're looking at."
Warne, Test cricket's top wicket-taker, will captain Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy final against Durham at Lord's on Saturday.
The 37-year-old first played for Hampshire seven years ago and has been with the club since 2004 in his current spell.
He is contracted to the county club until the end of next season, having retired from Test cricket in January with a record of 708 wickets in 145 matches.
Clubs are currently allowed to have two overseas players at present, but that will be reduced to one next summer.
Players holding European Union passports do not, however, count towards the quota.
Warne's South African team-mate Nic Pothas, for example, qualifies through Greek ancestry and New Zealander Hamish Marshall is playing for Gloucestershire on an Irish passport.
If Warne were able to obtain dual nationality, it would enable Hampshire to look elsewhere for someone to fill their overseas vacancy.
"There's been some amazing things happen here in England with people to play as locals, and all that sort of stuff, so it's something we're investigating. We'll just have to find out what happens with that," he added.
Interesting news from warney! personally i rate him as the greatest cricketer ever! But warney as a german.. im not having that. hes as aussie as a kangaroo
Warne revealed his surprise move on the eve of the FP Trophy final
Test great Shane Warne is investigating whether he qualifies for a German passport so he can play county cricket in England as a non-overseas player.
"My Mum was German. She came over to Australia when she was, I think, four or five," he told BBC Sport.
"With only one overseas [player] next year, it's something we're looking at."
Warne, Test cricket's top wicket-taker, will captain Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy final against Durham at Lord's on Saturday.
The 37-year-old first played for Hampshire seven years ago and has been with the club since 2004 in his current spell.
He is contracted to the county club until the end of next season, having retired from Test cricket in January with a record of 708 wickets in 145 matches.
Clubs are currently allowed to have two overseas players at present, but that will be reduced to one next summer.
Players holding European Union passports do not, however, count towards the quota.
Warne's South African team-mate Nic Pothas, for example, qualifies through Greek ancestry and New Zealander Hamish Marshall is playing for Gloucestershire on an Irish passport.
If Warne were able to obtain dual nationality, it would enable Hampshire to look elsewhere for someone to fill their overseas vacancy.
"There's been some amazing things happen here in England with people to play as locals, and all that sort of stuff, so it's something we're investigating. We'll just have to find out what happens with that," he added.
Interesting news from warney! personally i rate him as the greatest cricketer ever! But warney as a german.. im not having that. hes as aussie as a kangaroo
