HAMPSHIRE cricket star Shane Warne could be called to give evidence in a murder case in Australia.

Lawyers for a taxi driver accused of knocking down and killing a teenager are set to summon the spinmeister if the allegations come to court. Rajbinder Singh Shahi, 28, is charged with murdering teenager Xavier Salmon in Melbourne two weeks before his 18th birthday.

Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard that the Hampshire captain, who has given a statement to police about the incident, would not be required to appear at Shahi's committal hearing later this year, but could be called on later to give evidence in the Supreme Court if the matter went to trial.

Shahi's lawyer, Paul Duggan, told the court that prior to the incident Warne had witnessed the teenagers in the taxi misbehaving.

Mr Duggan said Warne wound down his car window to say "hello" to the group in the taxi before they began throwing sweets at the leg spinner and "abused him about all sorts of things".

Mr Duggan said Warne's testimony was "extremely relevant", adding that Warne's police statement "supports the position of the defendant" that the teenagers were causing trouble.

Contract talks

"Warne told the defendant to get rid of them, get them out of the cab," Mr Duggan said in court.

Warne, who is due back in Hampshire this weekend, is set to regain his lucrative Australian television commentary contract.

Talks are well advanced between Warne's management and Channel Nine executives. A deal, believed to be worth at least A$300,000 (£128,000) is expected to be announced within six weeks.

The new contract is expected to involve far more cricket commentary and cricket related matters.

The late Kerry Packer, a friend of Warne, reluctantly tore up his contract in July last year because of his off-field conduct on the eve of the last summer's Ashes series in England. A string of women have told of their affairs with the man who has taken more Test match wickets than any other player. Last year the latest allegations led to a separation from his wife, Simone. Warne has even admitted that he needs help to mend his womanising ways.

Warne, who has a home in Ocean Village, Southampton, is due to make his first appearance on the field for Hampshire on Monday at the Rose Bowl in the C&G Trophy match with Essex.

Hampshire, the defending champions, won the competition without Warne, who was on Test duty with Australia, at Lord's in September last year.

HAMPSHIRE cricket star Shane Warne could be called to give evidence in a murder case in Australia.

Lawyers for a taxi driver accused of knocking down and killing a teenager are set to summon the spinmeister if the allegations come to court. Rajbinder Singh Shahi, 28, is charged with murdering teenager Xavier Salmon in Melbourne two weeks before his 18th birthday.

Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard that the Hampshire captain, who has given a statement to police about the incident, would not be required to appear at Shahi's committal hearing later this year, but could be called on later to give evidence in the Supreme Court if the matter went to trial.

Shahi's lawyer, Paul Duggan, told the court that prior to the incident Warne had witnessed the teenagers in the taxi misbehaving.

Mr Duggan said Warne wound down his car window to say "hello" to the group in the taxi before they began throwing sweets at the leg spinner and "abused him about all sorts of things".

Mr Duggan said Warne's testimony was "extremely relevant", adding that Warne's police statement "supports the position of the defendant" that the teenagers were causing trouble.

Contract talks

"Warne told the defendant to get rid of them, get them out of the cab," Mr Duggan said in court.

Warne, who is due back in Hampshire this weekend, is set to regain his lucrative Australian television commentary contract.

Talks are well advanced between Warne's management and Channel Nine executives. A deal, believed to be worth at least A$300,000 (£128,000) is expected to be announced within six weeks.

The new contract is expected to involve far more cricket commentary and cricket related matters.

The late Kerry Packer, a friend of Warne, reluctantly tore up his contract in July last year because of his off-field conduct on the eve of the last summer's Ashes series in England. A string of women have told of their affairs with the man who has taken more Test match wickets than any other player. Last year the latest allegations led to a separation from his wife, Simone. Warne has even admitted that he needs help to mend his womanising ways.

Warne, who has a home in Ocean Village, Southampton, is due to make his first appearance on the field for Hampshire on Monday at the Rose Bowl in the C&G Trophy match with Essex.

Hampshire, the defending champions, won the competition without Warne, who was on Test duty with Australia, at Lord's in September last year.