IPL turns bitter rivals into buddies

Johannesburg: Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne is banking on Graeme Smith and Morne Morkel to win friends when the second edition of DLF Indian Premier League gets underway in South Africa on April 18.

Warne, who led Rajasthan Royals to title in the inaugural DLF IPL season, has often been booed by the South African crowds.

"I've always enjoyed playing here. I've been back a few times to play in poker tournaments at Sun City. The public have booed me most of the time but hopefully playing with the Rajasthan Royals they'll get behind me," the champion leg-spinner said.

"Hopefully when I come on to bowl, I'll get a clap, or a cheer or whistle. They're pretty vocal over here. They love their cricket. Having Graeme Smith and Morne Morkel in the side will help. It has surprised me how many people watched the IPL over here, and how many people liked the Royals," he said.

Warne, who locked horns with Smith in 2005-06, had successfully managed to mend bridges with the South Africa skipper.

On the other hand, Graeme Smith is still comfortable with Shane Warne in the forefront of the Rajasthan Royals team in the DLF Indian Premier League.

"I am happy to be in the background," he said about Warne hogging all the glory in the DLF IPL Twenty20 tournament.

"We had a few beers after the first game and chatted about a lot of stuff," Warne said about last year's DLF IPL.

"We hung out a fair bit. We've kept in touch since then and become good buddies. They (South Africa) have done well. He's matured a bit too."

"He came in at a young age and wanted to try to mix it. He didn't want to take a backward step. He was so verbal and public about everything," said Warne.

"We won 5-0 (in 2005-06) and I said to him the other day, when something's not working, try to do something else. Don't just continue and let the ego get in the way. He said, 'Yeah, yeah, I've learned my lesson'. He learned a lot about himself and how things work. He has matured into a good captain," he added.

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