Cricket legend Shane Warne supports a move to gender-neutral cricket terminology

Spin king Shane Warne has thrown his weight behind a move towards gender-neutral cricket terminology, as he releases his own fragrance.

A young Shane Warne in action. Picture: Stuart Mcevoy

Spin king Shane Warne has backed the move to gender-neutral cricket terminology saying it was time the sport moved with the times.

The change will see the use of the word ‘batsman’ banned and instead replaced with the inclusive term ‘batter’. Also being hit for six is the term ‘batsmen’ with the new language of the game to be ‘batters’.

Warne was part of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) committee which backed the move to de-gendered terms last month.

“I am all for it. I think it is good,” he said.

“Cricket is the second biggest sport in the world. If you take into account attendance, TV rights deals, wages for the players, participation, viewing numbers, soccer is number one but cricket is number two.

“It is a huge business, it is a popular sport and it is important that it gets with the times.

“I think that simple change from batsman to batter was fair enough.”

The Marylebone Cricket Club is the custodian of the Laws of Cricket and Warne is one of several high-profile ex-cricketers on its World Cricket Committee.

The International Cricket Committee has also embraced the change.

Far from being woke the move was welcome especially with the growth of women’s cricket, Warne said.

“Cricket is a fantastic career path for women now and what Cricket Australia and all the boards are doing and the money they are investing into women’s cricket is fantastic,” he said.

“My daughters love to play it too, not as professionals, but we muck around in the backyard, not as much now, when they were a bit younger.”

Meanwhile Warne is bowling into the market with his second foray into the fragrance world.

SW23 Sport is set to be the scent of the summer and for Warne it is shaping as the smell of success.

Shane Warne with his new SW23 Sport fragrance. Picture: Supplied

“Everyone has different versions of themselves from the serious side to the fun side so coming up with a fragrance, it has to embody all that you are about,” Warne said.

“It embodies me, it is fresh, it’s cool, it is fun.”

Described as “striking, aromatic and sensual” SW23 Sport offers notes of zesty mandarin, spicy and dry iris and finishes with the warm and sweet base notes of the tonka bean.

“It is awesome, I absolutely love it,” he said.

SW23 is available exclusively at Chemist Warehouse stores or online at www.chemistwarehouse.com.au