Wizard Warne may make a comeback

Just 16 months after retiring from Test cricket, Australia's greatest leg-spinner Shane Warne has said he would consider making a comeback against arch-rivals England in next year's Ashes series.

"If Australia really needed me and there was no one else around, and (captain) Ricky (Ponting) thought I could do the job, you would weigh up the options," said Warne, who will turn 40 during the Ashes series.

Warne, who has 708 wickets in 145 Tests, retired from international cricket after Australia won the Ashes in January 2007 and is now working miracles leading the Rajasthan Royals to the top of the Indian Premier League table. Warne has also taken 14 wickets at 18.78 runs so far in the IPL

Warne said he would return should injury again cut down Stuart MacGill.

"If Stuey MacGill fell over and broke his leg, and there were no other spinners around, and Ricky came out and said, 'Mate, can you please help us out for this one-off tour? We need you', that is something I would weigh up," he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

"I would still love to be playing international cricket, and miss it because I devoted 20 years to first-class cricket. It is a big part of my life," he said.

"The reason I retired was to spend time with my kids. I was also sick of international touring here there and everywhere, other commitments, and team meetings.

"If you could just turn up and play Test cricket, that would be cool. I would definitely consider that. At this stage, it is a fairytale."