WARNE - file

MELBOURNE (Reuters):

FORMER TEST wicket record holder Shane Warne is to take a development role with Australia's promising spin bowlers, Cricket Australia (CA) said yesterday.

Warne, who retired from Test cricket in January with a then record 708 wickets, will also join CA's playing conditions committee, which makes recommendations to the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the development of the game.

The leg-spinner will spend time working with all of Australia's men's and women's national squads, the captains of Australia's state sides and at the Centre of Excellence.

Excited

"I'm really excited to work with Cricket Australia and give back to the game," Warne said in a statement.

"I've already had some contact with youngsters around the country but to be able to work in a structured way with spin bowlers and their captains will hopefully give teams an even greater understanding of how to develop spin bowling talent."

Warne, whose record was surpassed by Sri Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan earlier this month, added: "I'm also excited to be working with Cricket Australia's technical committee ... on playing conditions. I have got some thoughts on the game that I can bring to that group."