Australian legspinner Shane Warne revealed that cutting out junk food and beer had given him a new lease of life after a six-wicket haul against South Africa. Warne jumped two places to become the second-highest Test wicket-taker ofall time on Sunday with his performance - then revealed he had lost 8 kilograms (17 pounds) in his fight against the flab.

Warne now has 436 wickets after his performance at the Wanderers, where he overtook New Zealand's Sir Richard Hadlee (431) and India's Kapil Dev (434). The only man still ahead of him is Courtney Walsh, the West Indian fast bowler who retired last year after taking 519 wickets.

"Courtney is miles ahead," said Warne in deflecting questioners who wanted to know whether he was seeking to be number one. But he revealed that he has been on a health drive to prolong his career. "No pizzas, no beer," he said when asked how he had lost weight. Then he elaborated on his list of forbidden items. "Pizza, toasted cheese sandwiches, chips, potato chips, chocolate rolls, vanilla slices ... it doesn't leave much except cereal, baked beans and water."

Warne said it was an honour to be bracketed with the likes of Hadlee and Dev. "To be mentioned in the same breath as them is pretty good from a personal point of view." He also paid tribute to Australian legend Dennis Lillee, who he said could have set an Australian record that would have been difficult to equal.

"Dennis Lillee was a wonderful bowler. If it hadn't been for World Series Cricket and a few injuries he could have been up near 500. I loved to watch him bowl. When I went past him, he called me and told me if anyone was to beat him had chosen me. That was a huge boost to me." Lillee held the Australian record with 355 wickets before he was overtaken by Warne.

Warne will play his 100th Test in the second match of the South African series at Newlands in Cape Town from March 8 and said he hoped to celebrate the occasion by helping his team clinch the series. "If I had to choose a ground to win a series on away from Australia it would be Lord's or Cape Town. Its a beautiful ground, my family will be over and its going to be special for me."

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd