Warnie says he will play in 2009 Ashes

London, May 7 (UNI) Champion leg spinner Shane Warne believes he is good enough to warrant a place in Australia's return Ashes tour in 2009.

''I am bowling well enough to warrant a spot in the side, the flipper's coming out well, am bowling a few wrong 'uns and taking wickets with them. Who knows, I might make another Ashes tour here,'' the 36-year-old world's highest wicket taker was quoted as saying by The Independent.

He, however, admitted that England deserved to win last summer.

''They were two evenly matched sides last year but England's bowling was very, very good. Flintoff, Harmison and Jones all bowled above 90 mph, swinging the ball normally and reverse swinging it, as well as nipping the ball around,'' said Warne, who took 40-wickets but still ended on the losing side on that occasion.

''The last time I faced that was in the early Nineties, probably from Pakistan or West Indies. Then it got to a stage where all the fast bowlers retired and there were none. You got through the new ball and the medium-pacers came on and we made that many runs and were that far ahead that it was just a matter of how many days it would take.'' But, the Hampshire captain who took seven wickets in the second innings to lead his county side to a 10-wicket crushing of Middlesex on Friday, added things were different now and Australia are the favourites to regain the famous urn.

''Sometimes you have to lose to become better. I'm not sure England are used to being favourites. It demands a different mindset. They are going to Australia to retain the Ashes. Australia have lost once at home in 14 years I think, and if England lose they then have to wait another couple of years.'' UNI XC PDS nd1240