TWO years ago Test cricket's greatest leg spinner Shane Warne was embroiled in a whirlwind of scandal.

The drug fiasco on top of mobile phones, smoking, and bookmaking scandals reduced his public image to rock bottom.

Now Warne's manager and brother, Jason, has admitted the financial implications were equally serious. The Hampshire captain missed out on match payments of around £300,000 during his 12-month ban.

"The thing that hurt him is that his cricket payments stopped," Jason said.

"Not getting that money and not being able to play for Hampshire - there's a fair whack in those things.

"I don't think he was struggling to feed himself but he didn't have the income he was accustomed to."

Marketing company Sponsorship Solutions' research indicates that Warne has dropped down the marketability scale of Australia's richest sports people.

After being in 21st position before the ban he is no longer in the top 40.

Warne also lost lucrative contracts with his sunglasses sponsors, Nike, and Just Jeans - after moving out of their target age group.

Anthony McClellan, head of media strategy company AMC Media, believes the rehabilitation of Warne's image has been highly organised with the backing of his friend and employer Kerry Packer, who invited Warne into the Channel Nine commentary box during the ban.

Last week Warne was shortlisted for the Laureus award - unofficially regarded as the Oscars of the sports world - for the best comeback of 2005.