LONDON, (Reuters) – Retired players and budding  talents will both get an opportunity when a worldwide Twenty20  format starts this year, former Australia bowler Shane Warne  said yesterday.

Warne, 40, was speaking at a news conference at Lord’s to  launch a global Twenty20 brand involving teams from the major  cricket nations. He is captain of the Indian Premier League  (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals who won the inaugural title in 2008.

“Once you’ve finished and you’ve still got a drive for the  game what avenue is there to go out and play? You might get back  to local cricket or grass roots development, but if you’re good  enough the IPL is one option,” Warne told Reuters.

Rather than hinder the development of up-and-coming players,  Warne believes the fusion of the veterans and the fresh-faced  can only have positive results.

“Young Indian players for Rajasthan might be able to go to  Hampshire, Cape Town or Trinidad to hone their cricket skills  and also learn life skills. There’s nothing like it in the world  that’s open to those sort of people,” he said.

The Royals have joined forces with England’s Hampshire,  South African team Cape Cobras and West Indian club Trinidad and  Tobago, as well as a yet-to-be confirmed Australia state team to  form the competition.

HUNGER AND DRIVE

The Australian retired from cricket in 2007 after a  glittering test career in which he took 708 wickets in 145  matches, only bettered by Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah  Muralitharan who is nearing 800 scalps.

Now plying his trade in the Twenty20 format, Warne is happy  to help players such as former team mate and batsman Damien  Martyn reignite their passion for the sport.

“The reason I went to Damien is because when I asked him  ‘How keen are you?’ he said ‘I’m pumped. I’ve got a hunger and a  drive to go and play cricket again.

“I said ‘We’ll back you but you’ve got to be in it for the  right reasons’, to which he replied ‘I’ll do it for nothing.’

“He’s bought a bowling machine and is really excited about  playing.”

Martyn, 38, played 67 tests for an average of 46.37, and is  one of a handful of former Australian players to emerge from  retirement and play in the lucrative IPL.

Compatriots Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath  are other examples.

“It’s a great opportunity to come out and play,” said a  shivering Warne, diving for cover into a Lord’s box as snow fell  on the headquarters of world cricket.