29 May, 2007 - Published 10:17 GMT
Shane Warne: cricketer and showman.
One of cricket's most celebrated and colourful personalities has spoken to Outlook.
Shane Warne, who in his international career took an astonishing 708 Test Match wickets, is thought of as one of the best spin bowlers ever.
But, as he told Outlook presenter Fred Dove, he nearly didn't take up cricket at all - preferring Australian Rules football.
"Cricket was something I played because my friends did," he said, "It wasn't something that grabbed my attention as a kid. I'd rather be on the beach or playing tennis or doing something else.
"Once my friends started to play cricket in the summer, I joined in and I wasn't really that good. Basically it was just filling in time until the football season came around.
One thing that may have had an impact on his career was an episode when he was about ten when he broke both his legs in a playground accident.
To recover he was forced to lie down on a trolley for "the best part of a year" and had to use his arms to push himself around.
"Whether that made my wrists and forearms and shoulders pretty strong and helped me bowl leg-spin, I'm not sure," he said, "But it's a good story and probably has something to do with it I suppose."
Warne plagued international batsmen with his leg spin-bowling for over 15 years but his career wasn't without controversy.
There were punishments for failed drug-tests and bringing the game into disrepute; allegations of involvement in match-fixing; and reports of extra-marital indiscretions.
"You try to learn from your mistakes," he said, "Sometimes you do things that you regret and that's just the way it is.
"The life experiences are sometimes fun."
Warne identified his friend Kevin Pietersen as someone who was likely to follow a similar career path and who may make similar mistakes.
"He has to make his own mistakes which he's made a few already," he said, "And I'm sure he'll make some more.
"But it's all about learning - and that's the best way to learn is to make mistakes."
Warne talked of the difficulties faced by international sportsmen who have to travel for much of the year without partners or family.
"Either you've got to be single or have a very understanding partner," he said.
And he revealed that he's looking forward to having time off to spend with his family.
"I've basically got six months off in our summer which I haven't had probably since 1987 or 88 when I first got in the state squad in Victoria," he said, "So I'm looking to spend a lot of time with my kids, taking them to the beach when it's 40 degrees in Melbourne, which will be great."
Warne said that his son Jackson was showing signs of being interested in cricket.
"This year was the first year that he's said, 'Dad can you come and bowl to me in the backyard'," he said, "I think he'll definitely be a sporty person. He's into all the different sports."
As well as spending time with his family, Warne also hopes to spend time raising money for disadvantaged children through his Shane Warne Foundation.
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