A South African woman has alleged that Shane Warne, who is married with children, frequently called her and sent her lewd text messages for more than a year. Warne has had a bad year all round |
Helen Cohen Alon, 45, told South Africa's Sunday Times he often told her he was lying next to his wife "thinking naughty thoughts about me."
Australian star Warne, 33, currently serving a one-year ban from cricket for using illegal drugs, is seeking legal advice after Cohen Alon's claims were made public.
In August 2000 he was stripped of the vice-captaincy of his country after revelations that he bombarded an English nurse with lewd phone messages.
Warne's brother and promoter Jason, in a lengthy statement, made no attempt to deny the fresh allegations.
"We regard the allegations of the South African woman Helen Cohen Alon as a personal issue between Shane, [his wife] Simone and the relevant parties," said Jason Warne.
"This appears to be a blatant attempt by a person attempting to set up someone for personal gain and we will consult our legal people in this regard.
"We feel to comment on the issue would only further assist her in gaining the result she is conspiring to create.
"Therefore, Shane and anyone connected to him will not be making any further comments on this topic."
Cohen Alon said she met Warne on 20 February 2002 at a shopping complex in Johannesburg while Australia were on a cricket tour of South Africa.
The newspaper revealing the story claims she has kept a number of the text messages and says the number from which they were sent was Warne's.
Cohen Alon says she went on several dates with the cricketer but because he was married she refused to take things further.
Warne is the second most successful bowler in Test history and was named as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the century.
But after the August 2000 revelations, Ricky Ponting took over the vice-captaincy and that move paved the way for him to lead the one-day side after Steve Waugh was axed.
MMIX
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