Only captaincy can pull Warne out of retirement: Jones

Melbourne:

Shane Warne is not exactly denying media reports suggesting that he's ready to make a comeback during the Ashes to save Australia. The fans certainly are getting desperate trying to collect a million dollars on website bringbackwarne.com.

The 41-year-old former leg spinner, with 708 Test wickets to his name, retired after Australia's 5-0 whitewash of England in the 2006/07 Ashes series, but calls have grown for him to make a short-term return to the international game following his country's dismal start to the current series.

However NDTV's Aussie cricket expert Dean Jones says more than the million dollars, it is Australia's captaincy which can pull spin legend Shane Warne out of retirement to rescue the team's floundering Ashes campaign.

"The only way Shane Warne will make a comeback is if he is made captain. He will never come back just as a bowler. So they are in fantasy land if they think he can come out of a 4-year retirement and impose damage on this England team."

"I don't think he is good enough right now, though there are cricketers who did well in their forties, remember Gooch making 400 plus runs against India," Dean Jones said.

While more than $5000 has been raised so far, the businessmen are determined to hit the $1million mark and present the cash carrot to Warne.

"There is a website to get Warne back and they have collected 4000 Australian dollars. That would not even fill the fuel in his Lamborghini! I really think everyone needs to support Ponting because he's the right man for the job," Jones said.

"The only way Warne can make a successful comeback is if he trains for 6 months. He can do it because he has a wonderful action. But I think we are dreaming. I think Warne is just trying to get support for his new TV show on Channel 9!"

"Seriously we are getting desperate in Australia. Maybe I can make a return to the one-day team! It can happen but it won't," he added.