Shane Warne says divorce was lowest point in life

Shane Warne has opened up on his divorce from ex-wife Simone Callahan, saying it was the toughest time in his life — and all his own fault.

Shane Warne and Simone Callahan separated in 2005 on the eve of The Ashes.

Cricket legend Shane Warne has opened up about his divorce from ex-wife Simone Callahan, describing it as the toughest time in his life.

The spin king was married to Callahan, now a yoga instructor, for a decade before splitting in 2005.

In a candid chat during a rain delay at the Ashes test in Sydney on Sunday, Warne spoke about his personal failing and the pressure while dealing with it during an Ashes series.

“Getting divorced was a difficult time in my life and for my children — and it was my fault,’’ Warne said on Fox Cricket.

“So I have to live with that for the rest of my life so it wasn’t easy.

Shane Warne and Simone Callahan separated in 2005 on the eve of The Ashes.

“A week before the Ashes series to do that, and then have to drag myself off the canvas and get out there and play in 2005, play against a quality England side … to have the Barmy Army for six hours a day, not just 10 minutes, singing songs, singing ‘where’s your missus gone?’ …

yeah good on you mate, it was a pretty good song.

“I’m sitting there worrying about my children that I was hoping I was going to spend three months of the Ashes series with, but because of my own doing they had to turn around and find a flight so I was pretty devastated with that.

“That was the lowest point in my life and then I had to go out and play an Ashes series so that was really tough.”

Warne was speaking to fellow commentator Mark Howard after the release of his documentary, Shane, which is showing in cinemas now.

“My personal life has been played out on the front pages, back pages, women’s magazines and I don’t want that,’’ Warne said.

Warne calling The Ashes for Fox Sports. Picture: Getty

“Some people think I court that. The other day I was sitting on my balcony and I get papped with my shirt off … I said are you serious, I’ve got my big fat guts out on the balcony.”

Warne said it was always hard when his three children with Callahan — Brooke, Jackson and Summer — were affected or followed by paparazzi.

“I resented it for a while, I understand it now, but to try and deal with it every single day might be hard to understand,’’ he said.

“When you grow up you think fame could be pretty cool. When I was 21, 22 years of age I had my first exposure to it. There’s no school you can go to learn about it. You’ve just got to try and do your best to learn and deal with it.

“The Gatting ball changed my life. That was the real turning point from that side of things.”

Warne added: “I’ve been very, very lucky in my life. I’m very grateful for the life I’ve had. Had over 13 books written about my life, a stage musical and now a documentary.

“It’s the first time my children have spoken, my parents. A lot of things were still quite difficult to talk about.”