No final Big Bash as Shane Warne retires from competitive cricket On reflection, it's probably about time. Colleen Petch Source: News Limited AGEING cricket legend Shane Warne will not turn out for the Melbourne Stars in the upcoming summer's Big Bash League (BBL), which means he might just have retired for good this time. Now 43 years old, Warne retired from Test cricket with 708 wickets at the end of the 2006/07 Ashes, as Australia beat England 5-0. He was 37 at the time. After his Test retirement, Warne continued to play Twenty20 cricket, and captained the unfancied Rajasthan Royals to an unexpected triumph in the first season of the Indian Premier league (IPL). After four years at the Royals, the legspinner turned put for the Melbourne Stars as a marquee player in the inaugural 2011/12 BBL season. He returned last summer as captain in an on-again, off-again season which was marred by a $4500 fine and one-match ban after he blew up at West Indian player Marlon Samuels. Warne's bowling wasn't much better than his behaviour. The great man captured just four wickets in six BBL innings, and conceded an expensive 7.95 runs per over. "I think the time is right for me to hang up my Big Bash boots - juggling business, family and commentary commitments across two continents is not easy," Warne said. It's going to be a huge summer for Australian cricket. I'm really looking forward to it and will be closely following the Melbourne Stars. Melbourne Stars CEO Clint Cooper said Warne had been instrumental in the start-up of the BBL and the Melbourne Stars. "With increasing business and family commitments across the world we fully understand Shane's decision to not play on this season," Cooper said. Shane will still have an ongoing involvement with the team. Exactly what that capacity is will be refined over coming months. Earlier this week Warne unloaded on Australia in typically forthright fashion midway through the Lord's Test. While it appears certain Warne has now played his last game of competitive cricket, there are many who believe he would still be better placed wearing a baggy green cap than a shirt-and-tie in the commentary box.