MUMBAI: ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has announced that former Australian spin bowler Shane Warne has signed on as a part of its commentary, presentation and analysis team for a period of three years.

Known for his forthright and honest opinions and a superb cricket brain, cricket fans can look forward to Warne?s analysis of the game starting with the England tour of India later this year in addition to Australia?s upcoming tour of India. The broadcaster says that having mastered the art of all formats of the game at the highest level, and his experience playing with and against some of the biggest names in modern day cricket, Warne?s unique insights will add immense value to ESS?s presentation of cricket.

Warne will also be actively involved in promoting Cricket related broadcast on ESPN Star Sports.

Warne for Australia has claimed over 1,000 wickets in Tests and One-day Internationals. In the new Twenty20 format of the game, Warne showed his ability as a strategist and as an inspiring leader when he led Rajasthan Royals to victory in the first edition of Indian Premier League.

ESS MD Peter Hutton said, "We?re delighted to add one of the legends of the game to our commentary team. Following on from the work with Kevin Pietersen it shows our intention to add the best international commentators to Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and the rest of our regular Indian team."

ESS senior VP production Huw Bevan said, "Warne?s unique experience and no-holds-barred insights will add immense value to ESS?s presentation of cricket. Fans in India would indeed be familiar with his achievements at the international level as well as his heroics for Rajasthan Royals, and we?re delighted to have him as part of our comprehensive cricket coverage."

MUMBAI: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals and Dainik Bhaskar newspaper have announced the launch of Cricket Star Rajasthan, a talent hunt programme.

Cricket Star seeks to uncover cricket talent in Rajasthan. And for Rajasthan Royals (RR), it is an opportunity to further build its brand in Rajasthan and so will travel through the state of Rajasthan to test young cricketers.

In this edition after a two-stage process, the winner of Cricket Star Rajasthan 2012 will to intern with the Rajasthan Royals. As part of the internship, the winner will get opportunities to train with the Rajasthan Royals team, be part of the practice sessions and get exclusive mentorship of Rajasthan Royals coaches. Dainik Bhaskar will also provide publicity for the winner through all their media publications.

Sanskar School Jaipur is the Associate Sponsor for Cricket Star Rajasthan.

This talent hunt is for the age group of 14 to 21 years as on 1st Sep 2012. Applicants can be from any part of Rajasthan and will have to come to one of the cities where the selection trials will take place such as Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur. The application process for this programme takes place from 7- 22 October.

Applicants will be required to send an SMS to a designated number (to be announced shortly), giving their name, and preference of city of trial. After sending the SMS, the applicants will receive a registration code, and date and venue of trials.

The first stage is the selection trials to be held at Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur. The winners at each city will be invited to the Cricket Star Academy to be run at Sanskar School Cricket Grounds. These cricketers will be tested through matches and cricket sessions by Rajasthan Royals experts and coaches. At the end of the academy, the coaches will announce the winner ? Cricket Star Rajasthan.

Emerging Media, one of the franchise owners, had introduced this talent hunt concept way back in 2006. Incidentally, it was the country?s first cricket based reality show.