Shane Warne today marked his return to cricket after a 12-month doping ban with two wickets - kick-starting his bid for a place in the Australia Test squad for the forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka.
The 34-year-old claimed two for 32 from 16 accurate overs after finally getting the chance to turn his arm over 90 minutes before the end of the third day's play between the Victoria second XI and Queensland Academy of Sport.
Warne, who missed the opening day of the match to serve out the final 24 hours of his suspension, entered the game yesterday but his first bowling spell was delayed as rain and storms hit Melbourne.
His form in the nets had been good and in the space of two overs, he had Queensland captain Adam Nye caught behind for 46 and trapped Steve Farrell lbw for two.
The crowd had swelled to a few hundred and Warne, who made 11 with the bat yesterday, received warm applause at the start of his first over.
He was banned last year after testing positive for a diuretic. Warne said he had taken a fluid-reducing tablet given to him by his mother to improve his appearance but was unaware it contained an illegal drug.
PA