Shane Warne takes up professional poker (From Daily Echo)

Shane Warne takes up professional poker

12:00pm Thursday 17th January 2008 in

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HE'S the king of spin when it comes to cricket, but now Shane Warne is trying his hand at the card table.

Hampshire cricket skipper Warne is set to embark on a career as a professional poker player.

It is not the first time the 38-year-old has hit the headlines away from the cricket pitch.

He has enjoyed a one off appearance in Australian soap Neighbours, received an honorary degree from Southampton Solent University for services to cricket, and set up his very own charity to help disadvantaged children.

“I’m really excited. Hopefully this will replace the competitive spirit that I had with cricket.”

Cricketer turned professional poker player Shane Warne.

Warne is getting round the table with global brand 888.com to play in poker tournaments around the world, including the prestigious World Series of Poker won famously by his friend and fellow Australian Jo Hachem in 2005.

Warne revealed that he was looking forward to travelling across the US, the UK, South Africa, and New Zealand with more dates set to be arranged.

His poker commitments will interfere with his last season as the Hampshire captain.

This year is his last in first-class cricket and he is already committed to playing poker in Las Vegas during the Twenty20 competition in July.

"Nothing will replace the 20 years of cricket in my life but there are a lot of similarities," Warne said.

"You have to be very, very disciplined.

"I'm really excited. Hopefully this will replace the competitive spirit that I had with cricket."

However, when Warne misses the start of the season in April it will be because of his cricket commitments as he takes part in the Indian premier league - a new Twenty20 competition Warne said the travelling demands associated with his new career will not affect the extra time he is spending at home being a father to his three children Brooke, Summer, and Jackson.

"Joe and his brother Tony have taught me a lot about playing poker but I've still got a lot more to learn," Warne said.

"The travel is different. It's obviously not like a cricket tour and will be in small stages. Things are great in my life. I've been enjoying doing lots of different things including charity work for the Warne Foundation and it's been great to spend heaps of time with the kids."