Warne: I'm still in the mix for Australia coaching role

Shane Warne has said he is still in the running to step in as caretaker coach of Australia's Twenty20 team in February next year, insisting he is willing and able.

Shane Warne has confirmed he has held talks with Cricket Australia regarding the temporary coaching role.

Spin king Shane Warne has said he is still in the running to step in as caretaker coach of Australia's Twenty20 team in February, insisting he is willing and able.

Australia is on the lookout for a temporary boss for its three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka, with national team coach Darren Lehmann set to be away in India preparing for a Test series at the time. Warne confirmed he has held talks with Cricket Australia (CA) regarding the temporary role. "I think I'm still in the mix to do it, there's a lot of other guys in the mix too," Warne told Melbourne radio station SEN 1116 via daily program Hungry for Sport .

"If I don't get the job of caretaker coach for that Twenty20, it's OK."

Warne said: "I've got a good relationship with Pat Howard [general manager of high performance] at Cricket Australia and we often talk about different things in Australian cricket and as a Channel Nine commentator I want to get my facts straight.

"During those conversations that I've had about different things with Pat, the Twenty20 coaching position came up because the Australian Test team will be in India playing, so Darren Lehmann the head coach and all those guys will be in India preparing for a Test series.

"He was talking about that and I said 'look, I don't want to be one of those guys that sits back and says why aren't we doing this? Why aren't we doing that? If you want my help I'm happy to put my hand up and say I will fill in while the boys are away in India…and help out.'"

The Aussie T20 side will host Sri Lanka in Melbourne, Geelong and Adelaide, starting February 17. Australia plays its first Test against India in Pune starting February 23.