some of Australian cricket's highest-powered backers have claimed Shane Warne retired too early, but the master spinner could not bring himself to talk about the prospect of a comeback.
Even at age 41, and four years into Test match retirement, there is still a feeling that Warne is the best spinner in the country.
Australia's spin bowling stocks are so shallow it is barely worth playing one.
And Warne's plans to have one last season in the Indian Premier League mean he has not totally cut ties with competitive cricket.
"I have always said he retired too early and could still do it," said David Gyngell, a friend of Warne's and chief executive of Nine Entertainment Company (formerly PBL).
Since Warne retired Australia have tried nine spinners and most have been quickly discarded after their shortcomings were brutally exposed at Test match level.
Australia have learned the hard way that you cannot manufacture champion leg-spinners. It's a case of they either appear or they don't.
One of the reasons Australia produces them occasionally is that finger-spinners cannot earn much of a living in Australia compared with other countries, so they switch to the more extravagant over-the-wrist style to earn a living.
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