Potchefstroom: Australia captain Ricky Ponting revealed on Thursday that the team had sent Shane Warne a good luck message ahead of the leg spinner's drugs hearing in Melbourne on Friday. "He passed on his best to all the boys for the last couple of games," explained Ponting after Australia's 75-run Group 'A' win against The Netherlands at the North West Stadium. "And we'd actually written a letter to him today with a few comments from everyone on a piece of paper, and signed it, faxed that back to him, wishing him well for what's coming up. "It's obviously been a very tough time for him but he's had the full support of all his teammates and I'm sure everyone he's played with back in Australia as well, so we're all wishing the best. "As I said a week ago, hopefully he'll be back here sooner rather than later." Warne dramatically quit the tournament hours before world champions' opening match against Pakistan last week after a drugs test conducted by domestic authorities produced a positive sample. Copyright AFP 2001

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Friday is Warne's D-Day; 'more pills report is rubbish'

Tags: cricket, world cup 2003, potchefstroom, ricky ponting, shane warne. good luck message, leg spinner, drugs hearing, the netherlands, north west stadium.