Shane Warne considers German citizenship

August 18, 2007 01:00am

AUSTRALIA'S greatest spin bowler, Shane Warne, is considering becoming a German citizen so he can play cricket in England - but in doing so he may have to renounce his Australian citizenship and any hope of a political career.

Warne, whose mother, Brigitte, was born in Germany, captains the Hampshire county cricket club.

Next year, clubs will be allowed to have only two international players, forcing Hampshire to choose between the record-breaking leg-spinner and Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark.

However, a number of rulings by the European Court of Justice allow the counties to treat EU members as domestic players.

"There's been some amazing things happen here in England with people to play as locals, and all that sort of stuff, so it's something we're investigating. We'll just have to find out what happens with that," Warne told the BBC today.

"My Mum was German. She came over to Australia when she was, I think, four or five," the spinner said.

"With only one overseas (player) next year, it's something we're looking at."

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove last night admitted the club had been "kicking the idea around now for the last six or seven months".

"I've sat down with Shane and had a long discussion with him and he went away from the meeting quite happy with the idea," Mr Bransgrove told The Weekend Australian.

"It is theoretically possible once Shane receives his German passport that we would then register him as a local, and not an import, allowing my county to recruit in effect a second overseas player.

"He's given me and my county board an undertaking that he will pursue the matter over the winter.

"But rest assured even when he gets it, you'll never be able to take the Australian out of Shane Warne."

However, a spokesman for the German consulate said that under German law children born to a German mother after 1975 are eligible for citizenship but the woman must have been a citizen at the time.

In most cases a person applying for a German passport has to renounce their existing citizenship and dual citizenship could only be held under exceptional circumstances.

Warne was born in 1969, which means if he was to qualify for a German passport it seems unlikely he could retain an Australian passport under German law.

In 2002 the Australian laws were liberalised to allow dual citizenship, but if Warne wants to become a member of the federal parliament after cricket he must again renounce his German citizenship status.

Warne has captained Hampshire to this year's county final, which starts today.

"I've never played in a domestic final, so walking out as captain will be a proud moment," he said.

Warne, 37, became Hampshire captain in 2004 but missed the team's 2005 final victory, because Australian coach John Buchanan insisted he be at a warm-up match for the national team on the eve of the Ashes.

With The Australian and AFP

[attachment=41]