Cricket: Warne out of hiding but saying little

SYDNEY - Shane Warne has emerged from hiding, but is saying little about the sex-related controversies that have added more unwanted footnotes to his cricket career.

He appeared in public for the first time in 10 days when he attended the Victorian team's training session in Melbourne.

He silently ran the media gauntlet on the way to a two-hour net session, but briefly broke his self-imposed media ban on the way home.

Surrounded by journalists, Warne would only say: "It's a private matter, a private matter, and I've nothing more to say. That's it."

Warne's off-field reputation was further sullied last week when he was accused of sending sexually suggestive text messages to South African woman Helen Cohen Alon.

Claims he "tongue-kissed" a 16-year-old girl on the Gold Coast last year followed when the girl's uncle appeared in a Melbourne court to face charges of extortion.

Then it emerged a Melbourne-based exotic dancer, represented by celebrity agent Harry M. Miller, is attempting to sell media rights to her story, which is expected to detail an affair with Warne.

"There has been very solid interest from media groups," Miller said.

"She's more than happy to take a lie detector test."

Cohen Alon is expected to arrive in Australia next week to take a lie detector test on a Gold Coast radio station which is to pay for her trip.

Warne has refused to comment on any of the allegations.

Meanwhile, Warne's brother and manager Jason has warned the media to back off, saying intense media scrutiny was hurting the Warne family.

"When they want to take the kids to the park, cameras follow them everywhere," Jason Warne said.

"It can be really upsetting to the kids and Simone [Warne's wife] what the media does sometimes."

While Shane Warne would also not comment on the state of his marriage, his brother said the couple were "holding up okay."

"This kind of media attention has happened before and no doubt it will happen again."

While refusing to comment on the allegations against his brother, Jason Warne conceded that, at times, "you would like to say stuff . . . about some of the things that have been said."

The Warne camp has been wary of igniting further media coverage.

The 107-test veteran will not appear on Channel Nine - the station to which he is contracted - to answer the charges.

"From the word go we've said it's a private matter," Jason Warne said. "Once you vary from that and comment on one thing you're in a position where you're expected to comment on everything."

- NZPA