Melbourne, Dec. 10: Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne has said that the musical about him, which attracted rave reviews, has left him with a warm and proud feeling.

Revealing his thoughts on the musical for the Herald Sun, which he saw recently, Warne said that at the first instance, he was angry and wondered how anyone could possibly do this.

“Surely people need permission to portray your life as a stage show. But, no, apparently they don''t. It wasn''t about the fact that I can''t laugh at myself, because I can. I''ve never taken myself too seriously, and I think that''s helped me achieve in cricket and on the commercial side of life,” Warne says in his review.

He said that in the last couple of months, he had very mixed emotions about the musical, believing it was no laughing matter and was worried that it would have a huge impact on his family.

He was worried and kept asking himself whether the musical was an event full of cheap gags, or whether the main actor Eddie, was a fan who wanted to portray his life in a fun and respectful way?

He said that was also very concerned about how the musical portrayed his wife Simone - the woman whose life was most affected.

“Simone has endured a lot through the years, but we''ve moved on since then and are happy, as are our children. Another concern was how they viewed my mother, Brigitte. I spoke to friends and at length to my manager, James Erskine, who finally persuaded me that the best way to make an informed decision - the only way, really - was to see it,” says Warne.

Recalling the moment when he went to see it, Warne said that he “had a couple of nervous VBs in quick time” before producer Kevin Whyte wandered across, introduced himself and told him the play was about to start.

“It''s hard to explain watching a musical and being entertained when it''s your life. I reach the interval and think this is pretty good - and fair - but I''m getting nervous because the so-called "scandals" are about to happen. Buckle up the seatbelt, I think to myself, and count to 10. There are a few more chuckles and the odd cringe - but not too many, I must admit. Then, it''s over. My life in two hours has just flashed before my eyes. Again I felt weird but, in a strange way, proud of what I''d just witnessed,” says Warne.

He tells producer Kevin that the play was pretty good, and then he invites actor Eddie for a snack around the corner.

“Almost as soon as we sit down, Eddie joins us. After an awkward "hello" to begin with, I pick his brain for the next few hours as to how and why he wrote the musical. It is an interesting few hours - and I''m very glad they happened. Great to chew the fat and learn what type of man Eddie is. I think Eddie and his team have written the musical in a respectful and sympathetic way, and that they have captured my fun, larrikin side,” he says.

“The show has a nice, warm feel. It also has passion and lots of emotion. I think people will be entertained and ride the show with Eddie and his brilliant cast,” he concludes. (ANI)