But in his role as Hampshire captain the leg-spin great has helped his country's oldest opponents by playing a leading role in the development of England pace prospect Chris Tremlett, injecting some Aussie steel into the 6ft 7ins "gentle giant".

Now the 23-year-old quick wants to repay the Australia star by letting loose a few bouncers at Ricky Ponting's men during the Ashes Test series which starts in July.

Last weekend Tremlett, a member of England's development squad, was on the fringe of national selection.

But a decision to rest Simon Jones because of a knee injury saw him called into the one-day series party and Tremlett responded by taking four for 32 on debut in Tuesday's 168-run victory over Bangladesh at Trent Bridge.

Indeed only the most outrageous fluke denied Tremlett a hattrick when Mohammad Ashraful, who made a dashing 94, played the ball onto the top of the bails only to see them stay put.

But Tremlett, whose grandfather Maurice played for England in the years after World War II and whose father Tim, an England A representative, was a mainstay of the Hampshire attack during the 1980, told reporters in Nottingham on Wednesday that had it not been for Warne he might be a county also-ran.

"Shane Warne has been brilliant. In the last couple of years he has probably been my biggest influence. He has made me play my cricket with great positive intent, the whole Hampshire team really.

"He has taken me in and told me how to bowl and just backed me 100 percent with everything I've done and I think the success over the last couple of years is down to Shane.

"I think he has tried to put a bit more aggression and ruthlessness into me. People see me as being a 'gentle giant' and I am naturally not aggressive," Tremlett admitted.

Indeed such has been Warne's influence on the softly-spoken Tremlett he almost sounds more like a young Dennis Lillee, rather than the son of a reliable fast-medium bowler, in his reaction to seeing batsmen in trouble against his bouncers.

"What do I feel when I hit a batsman? I quite enjoy it. I hit Alistair Brown on the head in a game against Surrey and that gave me quite a lot of pleasure.

"It is nice to be able to bowl fast. It's a gift that you've got and you may as well use it so, if you can scare a few batsmen, that's your job."

But Tremlett said Warne's influence had run far deeper than just giving him the belief to bowl short.

"I remember when Shane said 'I need you to step up to the mark and have a match-winning performance' when we set Nottingham-shire a decent run chase, also at Trent Bridge earlier this month, and I managed to get a hat-trick. He has confidence in you."

Tremlett, who hopes to keep his place in the side for Thursday's triangular day/nighter against Australia at Durham, is relishing England's current run of form against the world champions which has seen them win the teams' last three limited overs contests.

"I think the way England are playing at the moment, they'll probably have a bit of fear. We are a great challenge to the Australians at the moment."

But England's current run and an Australia slump which included Saturday's shock defeat against Bangladesh has come while Warne, now retired from one-day international cricket, has been off the big stage.

And Tremlett -- whose county team-mate Kevin Pietersen has already shown the Aussies what to fear from Hampshire players hitting a matchwinning unbeaten 91 last Sunday in the one day victory -- knows an Australia with Warne in their team will be a different proposition as they bid for a ninth successive Ashes series win.

"It's a lot different when he gets into the Test match arena. There is nothing that motivates you more than playing for your country so I'm sure when he plays for Australia he'll step it up."