Despite PM's plea,Warne rules out return to Aussie team - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has said that his return to top class competition is 'highly doubtful', despite a personal plea from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Blogging live with the Herald Sun website today, Warne said he had been "very flattered" by Kevin Rudd's request on live TV yesterday that he come out of retirement to secure the future of the Australian side. Today, he thanked his fans for taking the PM's tongue-in-cheek suggestion seriously, that it was his "national responsibility" to make a return. In a brief response today, Warne blogged: "Very flattered but highly doubtful. Sticking in the commentary box". Australia's spin king also anointed Michael Clarke as the best prospect for captaining the country after Ricky Ponting. He also said that chances of him playing Twenty20 in England again were also "unlikely". "I've had offers from a few different counties to play in the Twenty20 competitions, but I have also been offered to commentate for Sky, so I will probably elect the commentary box." But he also said, "unless, it's an offer I can't refuse". He said he would continue to play out his contract for the coming year as Royals captain in the Indian Premier League competition.