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Strauss is my new Cullinan: Warne

August 10, 2005 17:22 IST

Shane Warne believes he has already established a firm psychological hold over England batsman Andrew Strauss after dismissing him with a wonder ball in the second Ashes Test.

Warne, a master of spin both on and off the field who is likely to become the first bowler to take 600 Test wickets this week, likened Strauss to former South Africa batsman Daryll Cullinan, who famously struggled against the leg spinner.

"I've got plans for all the guys I bowl to, especially Straussy," he told reporters in the run-up to the third Test at Old Trafford starting on Thursday.

"I call him the new Daryll. He's the new Cullinan, I reckon. If the quicks don't get him then I hope I'm on really early. Whether it's day one or two, I don't care when it is. I don't mind bowling to him at all."

Warne bowled Strauss at Edgbaston last week with a delivery which pitched way outside the left-hander's off stump only to spin across his front pad as he tried to cover his wicket and hit the leg stump. He had also bowled him in the first innings.

Cullinan, a right-hander, had so many problems with Warne that he was dubbed his rabbit.

The five-match series is level at 1-1 after England won at Edgbaston by two runs on Sunday.

Warne, 35, has taken 599 Test wickets and said that 700 is a possibility as long as he retained his enthusiasm for the game.

"It depends on how long you play for, and I've always said once the enjoyment goes, I'll go.

"If I keep bowling like I'm bowling, and we've been playing against India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka who are the best players of spin, and I'm taking wickets at a better rate than I have in my life then 700 or more is a possibility."

Warne, whose marriage has just broken up, added: "It all depends on how long I play for. That will be a little bit dictated by my personal life as well, whatever happens in that. There's lots of different things to work out but the bottom line will be the enjoyment side of that."

 

Source: REUTERS
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