Warne plans academy; sounds CA, also open to ECB offer

London, Jan 8 (UNI) Shane Warne revealed his agent is in talks with Cricket Australia (CA) to find a role for him but the flamboyant leggie, who quit after the Sydney Test, also announced that he is open to offers from traditional rivals England as well.

Since Warne's grand retirement, CA is reportedly planning to offer the leggie a mentor's role, while England coach Duncan Fletcher said that he had Warne in mind to help England revive its fortune.

''Australian cricket is my priority. I want the team to stay No 1 in the world and to help the sport to remain No 1 in the country.

James Erskine, my manager, has been having talks with Cricket Australia to see if they can find a way for me to stay involved. It is just very, very nice that they want me.

''Beyond that, I also want to make sure that cricket stays healthy worldwide. So I would not have any problem with helping in England, New Zealand, South Africa or anywhere else. We live on a small planet these days,'' Warne wrote in his column for ''The Times''.

''It was interesting to read Duncan Fletcher say in our papers yesterday that he thinks I can offer assistance to England. That was very kind of him, especially after he said a few weeks ago that his batsmen were on top of my bowling. Perhaps he's changed his mind after Adelaide and Melbourne.

''Anyway, the fact is that I haven't heard anything from the ECB, so I can't say yes or no. I have an affection for England and a house in Southampton. And I've helped out England bowlers in the past. I am a big believer in players learning from each other. That is what happens, or should happen, at the end of every match or series,'' he said.

''For example, I had a long chat with Monty Panesar in our dressing-room when the fifth Test finished on Friday. He approached me while I was chatting to Freddie Flintoff, saying he wanted to ask a few questions about spin bowling. We spoke for 30 minutes or so together and he went away with a few new ideas.

''I talked about having a plan, attitudes towards bowling to different players, field placings and bowling from different areas in the crease. A ball can land in the same place, but you can get variety by delivering it from a slightly altered angle or trajectory. I hope Monty can take something from it,'' Warne said.

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