Ex-players shocked at Warne, McGrath's retirement speculation

Sydney, Dec 20 (UNI) The news of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath's possible retirement after the Ashes has caught former greats like David Boon and Allan Border by surprise.

Warne will reportedly make the announcement tomorrow with McGrath likely to do the same after the Ashes final Test here.

The news has shocked the selector David Boon, who, however, has refused to react until an official word comes from Cricket Australia or the players themselves.

''I haven't heard anything official yet from Cricket Australia and people have been ringing me non-stop. My take on it is that, until he does it officially, I can't pass comment because I don't know the facts,'' Boon was quoted by the 'AAP' as saying.

''I don't when he's proposing to do it officially or whether it's just rumour. I don't know,'' he added as confusion prevailed after 'Channel Nine' revealed that the champion leg-spinner will announce his retirement tomorrow in a press conference.

Meanwhile, former Australia captain and selector Allan Border said he was still to come to terms with the news and declared himself too shocked to react.

''It's just caught everyone by surprise,'' Border said on Fox Sports.

The former skipper said there was no need for Warne to retire at this stage and he should think hard and long before deciding.

''I just got the inkling that he was even considering one more tilt at England in England, and that would see him out. I suppose there's a lot of innuendo about what the reasons are ... I'm in a bit of a state of shock,'' he said.

Warne's former team-mate Damien Fleming has also also expressed ''shock and surprise'' at the news of champion spinner's possible retirement.

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