Australia's former cricket star Shane Warne, who likens his turbulent personal life to a soap opera, has been won over by a new musical play based on his antics on and off the field.
Warne is the subject of "Shane Warne: The Musical", which opened in his home-town of Melbourne and takes a light-hearted look at his life, including notorious text messages to and from female admirers, his infidelities on tour, and the well-publicised break up of his marriage to wife Simone.
- Special: Shane's Shenanigans
In a review of the show published in Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper, Shane Warne the man said he was more than a little bit apprehensive about seeing his life put to song.
"I am suddenly nervous. More edgy than facing Pakistani quickie Shoaib Akhtar on a green deck," Warne wrote.
Spin bowler Warne remains one of Australia's greatest cricketers, who occasionally made fools of the world's best batsmen during a 16-year international career. He took 708 Test wickets before he retired in 2007.
Critics have praised the show, which features a scene with Warne struggling to keep up with a stream of text messages while he shops with his wife, and its creator and star Eddie Perfect.
"Shane Warne: The Musical, currently showing in Melbourne, is a wild, funny, outrageous, and by the end, surprisingly moving account of the champion spin bowler's life so far," wrote the Herald Sun's Colin Vickery.
Warne, who says he is the subject of 13 unauthorised biographies, was initially nervous about how the show would portray his mother and his ex-wife, but he was eventually coaxed into seeing the musical and judging for himself.
He confessed to chuckling along to some of the scenes, but was worried when the show turned to some of his high-profile scandals. Warne also said some parts are not entirely accurate, but gave the show his blessing.
"There are a few more chuckles and the odd cringe - but not too many, I must admit. Then it's over," he wrote.
"My life in two hours has just flashed before my eyes. Again I felt weird but, in a strange way, proud of what I'd just witnessed. I think Eddie and his team have written the musical in a respectful and sympathetic way."
"Enjoy it, I say," he added.
