Almost as bizarre as David Wright making CNN International’s Play Of The Day earlier this week, Australian leg spinner extraordinaire Shane Warne was feted by ESPN’s “SportsCenter” last night for earning his 600th Test Wicket at the expense of England’s Marcus Trescothick. Said achievement was misidentified as Warne’s 600th career wicket — he’s got 239 additional in One Day Internationals and obviously more in domestic/county play, but hey, that cricket even received a non-gag mention on the channel is rare enough.

Warne is the kind of character the American public could warm to, much the way rogues like John Daly, David Wells, Tom Sizemore and the late Eric Douglas have been embraced (well, by me, anyway). The veteran bowler, one of Wisden’s Top Five Cricketers of the Century, has battled weight problems, struggled to quit smoking, was briefly banned for passing field conditions to bookmakers, and faced charges of phone sex harrassment.

On Day Two of the Third Test of this year’s Ashes, Australia are in dire straits — which as you know, must really suck because you have to stand 4 or 5 feet behind Mark Knopfler and that stupid headband of his. England (444, all out) currently lead by 310 runs with Australia (138 for 5, 38.3 overs) still batting. England’s Michael Vaughn hit for 166 earlier.