Warne rubbishes split talk

Sydney - Cricket great Shane Warne broke his silence to deny rumours of a split with model girlfriend Liz Hurley on Wednesday, following intense speculation fuelled by a last minute cancellation at a press conference.

Reports in Britain and Australia had said the celebrity couple had were calling it quits with The Sun citing a source as saying: "They have been so loved-up and have tried to make it work, but the distance has been a huge issue."

But Warne took to Twitter on Wednesday evening, saying he and Hurley were working through their problems.

"Some of the reports re EH & me r absolute rubbish. Yes we're sorting through some (private) issues. But we're not throwing the towel in yet," he wrote.

The rumours were sparked by a lack of tweets between the pair with Hurley not sending Warne a 44th birthday message on September 13, although she was in England and he was in Australia visiting his three children.

Both of them are prolific social media users but Warne's last tweet to his 47-year-old fiancee was on August 30. She was reportedly due in Melbourne a week ago but has not turned up.

A Hurley tweet earlier this month that read: "The more I know of man, the more I love my dog" only added to the speculation.

Warne had been due to attend a press conference in Melbourne on Wednesday regarding his foundation, which helps raise funds for ill and underprivileged children, but he pulled out just 90 minutes before it was due to be held.

Cricket Victoria blamed a "scheduling conflict" while Warne tweeted his apologies.

"Hey guys apologies about today & the late notice everyone!"

The Telegraph newspaper said journalists had been warned not to ask questions about the rumoured romance troubles, while other reports said Warne was lying low due to the supposed break-up.

The Sydney Morning Herald, a leading broadsheet, splashed the headline: "Shane Warne cancels ambassadors event, igniting Liz Hurley split rumours."

The tabloid Sydney Daily Telegraph went further, asking: "Is Shane Warne's ex-wife Simone Callahan behind his rumoured split with Liz Hurley?"

Warne and Hurley, the long-time former girlfriend of actor Hugh Grant, reportedly met in 2010 and confirmed their engagement via Twitter in 2011.