A group of Queensland businessmen are attempting to raise $1million to lure Shane Warne back to Test cricket and save the Ashes series.
The self-declared cricket tragics have created a Bring Back Warne website which is taking donations from the public.
While less than $5000 has been raised so far, the businessmen are determined to hit the $1million mark and present the cash carrot to Warne.
“We offer the Rescue Fund to the King of Spin, pleading with him to once again don the Baggy Green and attempt to win us back the Ashes,” the website states.
While it is not known whether Warne is aware of the fund’s existence, the spinner has himself done little to quash rumours of a fairytale comeback.
In his column for British newspaper, The Telegraph, he said if he was really needed, he would consider returning to the longer form of the game.
"If Australia really needed me and there was no-one else around and Ricky thought I could do the job, you would weigh up the options," Warne wrote.
"If there were no other spinners around and Ricky came out and said 'Mate, can you please help us out for this one-off tour, we need you' that is something I would weigh up."
Australia coach Tim Nielsen has also fuelled speculation, admitting that Warne would be discussed at a meeting between selectors today.
But he said time would be against the 41-year-old.
"He only has three weeks," Nielsen said, referring to when the Ashes series will end.
"I don't know where he is at with it or if he has talked about it. I haven't spoken to the selectors, they are meeting (today) and will have a pretty clear idea of where they are going then."
"Warnie hasn't got a lot of time. He has been working hard in the commentary box, so it might be a bit hard for him to jump out to the middle. If we had to bowl for 150 overs he might feel the heat a bit."
Australia, who have not lost a home Ashes series since 1986-87, trail 1-0 after two matches and are in grave danger of losing the series for the third time in five and a half years.
Warne took 708 wickets in 145 Tests, retiring in 2007.
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