Warne impresses selectors at the MCG

Australian leg spinner Shane Warne took a wicket with his second in his long-awaited comeback to top-level cricket following …

Australian leg spinner Shane Warne took a wicket with his second in his long-awaited comeback to top-level cricket following a 12-month doping ban.

Warne, who trapped Daniel Marsh lbw for five, claimed one for 48 off 10 overs for Victoria in an interstate one-day match against Tasmania at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) today.

Warne, test cricket's second highest wicket-taker, ended his suspension on February 10th and played in a four-day second XI game for Victoria against  Queensland earlier this week, picking up match figures of five for 152.

The 34-year-old spinner will play in a four-day match for Victoria against Tasmania at the MCG starting on Monday.

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The interstate match will be Warne's only first-class outing before Australia name their squad on Friday for next month's test tour of Sri Lanka.

Australia chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns, who was at the MCG on Saturday, told reporters he was impressed with what he saw of Warne's bowling.

"He was quite encouraging in the second XI game where he got a few overs under his belt and today...was very encouraging," Hohns said.

"All we can go on is what's presented to us and that is this game and the Pura Cup game (starting Monday), so we'll have to make a judgment on that."

Warne was banned in February last year after testing positive for a diuretic, which can be used to mask other drugs.

One of Wisden's five cricketers of the 20th century, Warne is Australia's leading wicket-taker with 491 victims.