By John Mehaffey
LONDON, Sept 14 - Almost inevitably Shane Warne
was never going to experience a mundane 37th birthday.
The colourful Australian, rated the best spin bowler of all
time, started Wednesday on a high after receiving an honorary
doctorate from Southampton and Solent University.
He finished the day in hospital after he was struck above
the right eye when he mistimed a hook off compatriot Matt Mason
while leading Hampshire against Worcestershire in a limited
overs match.
Warne, sporting bandages on his eyebrow, shrugged off the
injury on Thursday as he began a day of promotions for his
latest book.
"I have obviously been better," he told a news conference in
London's Canary Wharf. "As soon as it happened I went to
hospital. It was a bit hard to see last night, I was a bit
drowsy.
"Yesterday started pretty good, I became a doctor and I was
going to treat myself."
Warne has had an incalculable impact on the game over the
past 15 years. He is the world record holder for test wickets
with 685 but, more importantly, inspired a revival in the
bewitching art of wrist spin bowling at a time when the fast
bowler was king.
His impact was recognised by the annual Wisden almanac which
named him as one of the five cricketers of the 20th century in
the 2000 edition.
RARE SETBACK
Last year he scaled new heights, taking 40 wickets in the
Ashes series as well as scoring useful runs, and appearing at
times to be playing England on his own.
Over the calendar year he took 96 wickets to beat compatriot
Dennis Lillee's previous mark.
For all his efforts, Warne still finished on the losing side
in the Ashes, a rare setback for the world's top side and one
they are determined to rectify on home soil this year.
"The expectation and anticipation is going to be like last
year," Warne said. "We are going to have to buckle our seat
belts.
"I think it will be a hard, tough, close series. We are
tough to beat in our own conditions."
Warne certainly does not share the pessimism expressed by
England supporters over the team's long and daunting injury list
since the Ashes.
In fact, despite the absence of captain Michael Vaughan and
Welsh fast bowler Simon Jones, he believes England are in some
respects a stronger side with the return of wicketkeeper Chris
Read in place of Geraint Jones and the emergence of left-arm
spinner Monty Panesar.
Panesar was given his opportunity after Ashley Giles, who
has been named in the party to tour Australia, missed the entire
season with a hip injury.
BEST KEEPER
"I believe that in certain areas England are actually
stronger," Warne said. "Keeping and spin bowling are a very,
very important part of playing cricket in Australia.
"You have got Chris Read, who I believe is the best keeper
in England. I think Monty Panesar is the best spinner in England
and I think he has proved it this summer."
Warne also had kind words for England captain Andrew
Flintoff, whose all round contribution last year proved crucial.
"He is an inspirational type of player, I think we saw that
last year in the way he dragged the rest of the team.
"He's a really good guy. I have become good friends with
him."
Any friendship will end on the pitch as Australia defend
their proud record at home.
Since Warne made his debut against India in January 1992,
Australia have lost only one series at home -- to West Indies --
and they held the Ashes for 18 years.
"Australia is a tough tour," he said. "There's nowhere to
hide. If you don't perform well you could cop it, you get tested
in every department."