SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian cricket great Shane Warne has
denied having an affair during a trial marriage reconciliation,
following claims of infidelity by his ex-wife.
Simone Callahan, who reunited last December with the spin
bowler known also for his womanizing, told New Idea magazine
she caught the spin bowler cheating on her while he was in
London.
As Callahan got the couple's three children ready for
school in Melbourne, she said a text dropped into the inbox of
her mobile phone.
"Hey beautiful, I'm just talking to my kids, the back
door's open," the message from Warne said.
"You loser, you sent the message to the wrong person,"
Callahan sent back.
She told the magazine the message confirmed her suspicions
that Warne was again cheating on her, adding that he had told
her there was someone else and apologized.
However, Warne issued a statement saying the couple agreed
amicably to go their own ways nearly two months ago.
"There was no affair, nor anyone else," he said.
The 38-year-old Warne, who played for English county
Hampshire this year, said he was looking forward to a quiet
Australian summer and planned to spend time with his children
and friends.
Warne took a world record 708 wickets in 145 tests, but
also had to endure numerous tabloid headlines for boisterous
post-match celebrations, phone sex and drug scandals.
He and Callahan divorced in 2005, with Warne later saying
his womanizing was something he did to ease the loneliness of
long cricket tours.