SYDNEY, Dec 13, 2010 (AFP) - Australian spin bowler Shane Warne Monday
confirmed he had split from his ex-wife, amid reports of an alleged “affair”
with British actress Liz Hurley.

    Warne and his former wife Simone Callahan, who have three children
together, divorced some time ago but had rekindled their romance and shared a
home together in his home town of Melbourne.

    But after video and photographs of Warne and Hurley apparently kissing and
cuddling together in London last week were published, the 41-year-old was
forced to issue a statement on his relationship.

    “Sadly and unfortunately, Simone and I split up a while ago, our close
friends and family were informed at that time,” Warne said in a statement on
his website.

    “It is a private matter so we did not make it public. We remain friends and
will continue to be good parents.”

    Warne’s comments follow those of Hurley, who announced via microblogging
site Twitter on Sunday than she had recently split with her Indian businessman
husband of three years Arun Nayar.

    “For the record, my husband Arun and I separated a few months ago,” she
said. “Our close family and friends were aware of this.”

    Social media sites have been swamped with comments about Warne’s alleged
fling, temporarily drowning out calls for his return to the Test squad as
Australia struggle in the Ashes series against England.

    The former Australian Test cricketer refused to speak to the media after
arriving back in Melbourne from England on Monday.

    It is not the first time Warne’s romantic flings have made news; previous
affairs cost Warne not only his marriage but the vice-captaincy of the
Australia Test side in 2000.

    Warne reportedly met Hurley at an English race meeting in July and last
month he announced he would interview her on his new Australian television chat
show, called Warnie, which coincides with the Ashes series.