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Inspirational Warne clears historic 500-wicket mark

Australia's Shane Warne, center, celebrates as teammates run towards him after taking his 500th test wicket during the final day's play in the first test against Sri Lanka in Galle March 12, 2004. Warne is only the second bowler to reach 500 test wickets. PHOTO: REUTERS

Shane Warne became the first spinner in history to take 500 test wickets on his comeback from a 12-month drugs ban as he inspired Australia to a 197-run triumph against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Warne, who took three front-line wickets in three overs in the morning session, was mobbed by his team mates after removing Hashan Tillakaratne shortly after lunch on the final day of the first test to reach the landmark.

He then removed tailender Kumar Dharmasena to complete a 10-wicket match haul as Sri Lanka, chasing 352 to win, were bowled out for 154 in an extraordinary turnaround.

The 34-year-old leg spinner, rushed back into the test squad after a single first-class match, had begun his 108th test with 491 wickets. He ended with five for 43 from 15 overs in the second innings after his five for 116 in the first.

Former West Indies pace bowler Courtney Walsh is the only man to have taken more test wickets than Warne, with 519.

Australia's victory came after they had conceded a 161-run first-innings deficit, only for Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn and Darren Lehmann to score centuries in a second innings of 512 for eight declared.

Warne was banned after testing positive for a diuretic on the eve of last year's World Cup. He said he had unknowingly take the drug in a slimming pill given to him by his mother. Diuretics can be used to mask the use of other drugs.

Warne, starting yesterday on 496 wickets, snapped up the wickets of Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene before lunch.

Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 15 runs in the space of 29 deliveries to slump to 86 for five at lunch.

Off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Warne's great rival and also playing in the Galle match, has taken 496 test wickets.
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