Och noooo! Warne lands in hot water again
LONDON: Fresh from his ban for an ugly spat with Marlon Samuels during an Australian Twenty20 match, cricket great Shane Warne found himself in trouble on the other side of the world yesterday with a speeding fine.
Warne, 43, was fined £500 (R6 890) after admitting driving at more than 160km/h on a south of Scotland highway where the maximum speed is 112km/h.
He escaped a driving ban, but had five penalty points put on his licence at a court in the town of Dumfries.
Warne was represented by lawyer Graham Walker, who entered a plea of guilty on behalf of the leg-spinner, widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest players of all-time.
In remarks quoted by the BBC, Walker described the incident in September as an “error of judgement”.
Walker added: “Warne is a man who had no previous convictions and no points on his driving licence, and travels thousands of miles a year.”
Warne apologised yesterday for the foul-mouthed Twenty20 confrontation that earned him a ban and a fine, and said he hoped he had not tarnished his legacy in the sport.
Warne admitted he had gone too far in his on-field row with West Indian batsman Marlon Samuels in Australia’s Big Bash League, but defended his right to show “emotion and passion”.
“I’m very passionate when I play the game. I overstepped the line and hence I’m missing a game,” Warne, 43, told Australian broadcaster Fox Sports.
“I thought it was a pretty harsh penalty but I was more disappointed in my own actions, especially as a captain.
“I apologise to the fans and I apologise to everyone. Sitting and doing detention, it’s not easy to watch the boys.” – SapaAFP