Famous Aussie cricketer switches to professional poker

01/16/2008

With a distinguished, if occasionally controversial, professional cricketing career with world beaters Australia behind him, fast bowler Shane Warne has embarked on a new job as a professional poker player, signing with online gambling group 888.com this week.

Warne will represent 888.com and subsidiary Pacific Poker at major poker events around the world including the prestigious World Series of Poker, which was won by fellow Aussie Joe Hachem in 2005. The extensive travel commitments that form part of his new life will take him to the United States, UK, New Zealand and possibly South Africa during 2008, with more dates around the world a possibility.

"Nothing will replace the 20 years of cricket in my life but there are a lot of similarities,'' Warne said of his new career. "It's a game of skill. You have to be disciplined.''