Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting was saddened to hear that Shane Warne and his wife Simone had announced their separation but he hoped it wouldn't be a distraction during the coming Test series with England.

The legspinner's brother and manager Jason Warne has confirmed Test cricket's leading wicket-taker, 35, and his wife of over nine years had separated.

The couple vowed to remain friends in the interests of their three children Jackson, Brooke and Summer.

In a joint statement, Shane and Simone Warne said: "It is with great regret that we inform you that we have decided to separate.

"We remain best of friends and we will continue to be there for our three beautiful children.

"Please respect our privacy at this difficult and tough time."

The news of the Warnes' break-up comes just a week after an English student claimed he begged her for sex after a recent night out in London, which was the latest sex scandal to have plagued the star bowler over the years.

Warne was stripped of the Australian vice-captaincy in 2000 for sending a series of lewd text messages to an English nurse.

He has also been the subject of several explosive claims from women over the years.

Ponting said he would try to make contact with his legspinner before the Test series, which starts in July.

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