Warne has no regrets after final act falls flat

SYDNEY, Jan 5 (Reuters) Shane Warne's last individual act in international cricket did not exactly go to plan but the Australian leg-spinner said he still could not have asked for a better farewell.

Warne was introduced into the attack with England nine wickets down and staring at another massive defeat in the final Ashes test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

The word's greatest wicket-taker seemed destined to finish his stellar career by capturing one last English scalp but for once the script did not go according to plan when another retiree, Glenn McGrath, snared the final wicket.

Warne's last ball in test cricket was a gentle full toss on leg stump which England tailender Steve Harmison promptly dispatched to the boundary.

It might have been an anticlimax but after the events of the past two weeks, Warne was not complaining.

The 37-year-old leg-spinner was named man of the match in the fourth test in Melbourne after completing his 37th five-wicket haul and becoming the first player to capture 700 test wickets.

He passed 1,000 international wickets in Sydney and smashed an entertaining 71 with the bat to put Australia on course for their first Ashes cleansweep in 86 years.

''To win 5-0 and finish on such a high was just fantastic,'' he told a news conference.

''In my 16 international seasons, I don't think I've been involved in a cricket side that's played relentless and tough cricket like we've played this summer.'' Warne's decision to retire when he is still at the top stunned the cricket world but he said he had no regrets or second thoughts.

BEST TEAM He said he could not have chosen a better time to leave with Australia unchallenged as the world's best team.

''At the moment, we're a long way ahead of the next best side...that's not being arrogant, that's just the facts,'' he said.

''England are rated the next-best side and to win 5-0, you can't be any more comprehensive than that.

Warne, regarded as perhaps the most famous cricketer since his compatriot Don Bradman, said he would miss the competition of professional sport but was looking forward to escaping the spotlight after a career that has often had all the drama of a soap opera.

''Nothing can replace the opportunity to play for Australia.

To get out there with a group of guys to try and achieve something -- that's the beauty of a team sport,'' he said.

''I've made some wonderful friends. Friends I've played with in Australia and that I've played against -- Sachin Tendulkar, or (Brian) Lara or Andrew Flintoff -- that's what it's about.

''Yes, it will be hard to replace that stuff. But, you just find a way to do whatever you have to do.

''But hopefully it'll keep people off my front lawn for a while, following me around in cars, all those type of things.

Hopefully, that will die down. I won't miss that at all. Maybe now I can get my gear off and dance on top of a bar if I want to.'' REUTERS SAM HS1225