McGrath said the tormented leg spinner, under fire from critics and regarded by many as a spent force, should not rush into a decision.

McGrath said Warne should take time off after the World Cup before making a decision. "I certainly hope he does not make any rash decisions as, I can assure you, he has the full backing of his team-mates," he told The Mail on Sunday.

"From a professional and personal perspective, I will be disappointed if Shane decides to retire ... we have bowled a lot in tandem over the years and I'm certain that we have helped each other to be successful."

On Saturday Australian skipper Steve Waugh had hit out at the critics, saying: "I'm really not sure what people want from him. If they want to try and take the guy down and lose one of Australia's greatest ever cricketers, they're going the right way about it."

The29-year-old Warne, long regarded as the best spinner in the world, announced he was considering retirement earlier this year after being dropped from the Test team for the first time in seven years.

He was axed after failing to rediscover his form following shoulder surgery last year. That operation cost him six months on the sidelines.

To add to his troubles last season, he was forced to admit he had been fined for accepting money from a bookmaker for divulging pitch and team information.

Many critics feel he has lost his loop and does not spin the ball as sharply, hampered by lack of flexibility in his shoulder joint.

Crowds at the World Cup have barracked the portly bowler, greeting him with chants like "Save the Whale!" The combative Warne, however, who has taken 317 Test and almost 200 one-day wickets since his debut in 1991/92, showed on Sunday that he will not go quietly.

He took two wickets in one over on his way to fine figures of two for 33 off 10 overs against South Africa in their keymatch which concludes the second round of the World Cup.

Earlier in the week, he said he was happy with his form despite several poor spells here. "Even between 1992 and 1996, my golden years, I copped the odd time in one-day Cricket. I know there are more goldens years ahead."