World Cup Update

Australia’s spin king, previously a 40-a-day man, told reporters he had won his battle to kick the habit and banked the cash, but pictures published here today show him puffing away in a Barbados bar days before the stunt concluded.

Warne claimed the cigarette on April 25 was `a mere blip’ in an otherwise smoke-free four-month deal with Nicorette chewing gum manufacturer Upjohn and Pharmacia to pack it in.

“It had been quite a stressful 10-week period and unfortunately I had a night out with the lads, it was quite late at night and I gave into the temptation once,” he was quoted as saying in The Australian, which printed the picture.

He said he had phoned Nicorette to confess immediately, although the paper regurgitated a Warne quote from April 28 in which he saidrumours of him lighting up were untrue.

Nicorette, who are said to have reaped $2 million dollars in free publicity in terms of newspaper space and television and radio airtime from the stunt, said they forgave the allegedly reformed smoker.

Taylor fears Aussie burnout

SYDNEY: Former Test captain Mark Taylor said today that fatigue posed the biggest threat to Australia’s chances of winning the forthcoming World Cup.

Taylor said Australia’s players had been on the road since last year’s Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and may find it difficult keeping themselves focused on the tournament.

“The fact that they’ve played a lot of cricket is the greatest danger,” Taylor said. “The hardest thing for the Australians is not to look arourd the corner at the break and think about that. They’ve got to think about playing well over the next few weeks to win the World Cup.”

McGrath eyes county move

CARDIFF: Australian pace bowler Glenn McGrath is considering a move to an English countynext season.

“County cricket is an option for me, it is something I would like to do,” said the 29-year-old, who has taken 232 Test wickets.

“I’m talking to a few clubs at the moment, and my manager is coming over shortly to see whether or not I will come to England in the 2000 season.”

Mcgrath has taken advice from West Indies’ Courtney Walsh and South African speedster Allan Donald about what he might expect in English cricket.

“A couple of seasons here is not going to kill me,” he added.