Warne's charm to be used to improve Ind-Aus relations

Australian spin legend Shane Warne is all set to use his charm to soothe the frayed Indian nerves Down Under after he met Victoria's Premier John Brumby today for discussing ways to end the violent attacks on the community here.

Although Warne did not divulge what transpired during the meeting, Brumby said the former spinner's services could be sought in some promotional work to ease the escalating tension between the local Australians and the Indians.

"We may well look at something like a friendship cricket game, we'll be focused on selling the positives about our state," Brumby was quoted as saying by 'ABC News'.

"Shane wants to help Victoria and put back into the community. While we would both condemn in the strongest possible terms, any act of violence or any act of racially-motivated violence, we're also keen to keep this in a context," he said.

Warne, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, is immensely popular there and Brumby said this would help the Oz government's planned campaign. "Shane of course through his cricket, through his prowess is greatly admired and greatly respected in India."

"I'd certainly like to see Shane perhaps in some promotion and advertising role in India. I've actually had a talk to him in the past about his penchant for baked beans," Brumby said.

"He does like baked beans but he's very eclectic in his food tastes and I think he likes Indian food as well," he quipped. Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland agreed with Brumby and said players like Warne are capable of bridging any divide.

"I've got no doubt our players can play a role and help. It's fantastic he's offered his services and let's see how things unfold," he said. Indians have been targetted in a series of attacks here, which have been condemned as racist in India but the Australian government has so far refused to acknowledge the same, insisting that these are just opportunistic crimes.