SYDNEY: Warne is confronted by media as he returns to his Brighton home, amid allegations of an affair with Elizabeth Hurley.
Shane Warne’s nocturnal activities have landed him in hot water in the past, but this time his off-field exploits are yet to bowl him over. Cricket Australia yesterday said it had no interest in his private life, and his dalliance with Liz Hurley would not threaten his standing as the organisation’s spin ambassador.
”Our only interest in Shane is in his abilities as a spin bowling ambassador and coach. His private life is his business,” said a CA spokesperson.
Channel Nine offered a firm ”no comment”. ”He’s filming the next episode of Warnie and I won’t comment on his personal life,” said a spokesperson from the network.
Warne’s philandering ways cost him the Test vice-captaincy in 2000 and saw Channel Nine tear up his contract in 2005 but times have changed. Warne is no longer married and, despite the hopes of many cricket fans around the country, not a member of the Test side.
The legendary spinner last night issued a statement on his website declaring he and wife Simone had split up prior to his rendezvous with Hurley in a London hotel.
”Sadly and unfortunately, Simone and I split up a while ago, our close friends and family were informed at that time,” Warne said. ”It is a private matter so we did not make it public. We remain friends and will continue to be good parents.”
His statement came hours after a similar release from Hurley on Twitter.
”For the record, my husband Arun and I separated a few months ago. Our close family and friends were aware of this,” she said.
