Warne has not played for Australia since shoulder surgery in May.

His return follows England's dramatic 12-run defeat of Australia in the fourth Test, giving the touring side a chance to square the series in Sydney.

"I feel like I'm starting my career all over again," Warne said. "There's no dramas with the shoulder anymore. It feels good and I'm ready.

Shane Warne: "I've been pretty patient" (BBC News 24)

"The doctors have told me my shoulder is stronger than ever. I feel like the bionic man. I'm feeling pretty confident with my bowling but the proof of my pudding will come next week."

Australia have already retained the Ashes but defeat in Sydney would cost Mark Taylor's men a record-breaking sixth successive series win.

MacGill may bowl in tandem with Warne

Warne returns to the squad at the expense of young fast bowler Matthew Nicolson following the defeat in Melbourne, and the recall offers the prospect of a legspin tandem.

Stuart MacGill, who keeps his place, says he will be fit despite reports he had suffered a hamstring injury in Melbourne.

Meanwhile Warne has admitted he feared the worst during his nine-month exile from the international arena.

"My life has been a bit like a soap opera," Warne said. "It's been like a drama, especially the last six months."

BBC Radio 5 Live's Pat Murphy reports from the tour

His progress has been relentlessly followed by Australian media and public, and six weeks after the surgery he was told he could be out of action for two years.

"I started to think `well geez, what am I going to do.' I'm not qualified at anything, I've basically dedicated my whole life to cricket."

October 1993: Warming up for a first ball since the operation

Warne started to read up on his injury, and got no great relief from his investigation.

"I did a bit of research and some baseballers and javelin throwers never came back from identical surgery."

Since his return, he is yet to hit form in state cricket and also faces a controversy over taking money from an illegal Indian bookmaker.

But he is confident of a return to his best if picked in the final eleven.

"Over the last five or six years playing against England they have had a weakness against legspin," he said.

Return to first class cricket as Victoria captain in December

In 17 Tests against England, Warne has snared 85 wickets at 23.56, with four hauls of five wickets and one of 10 wickets in a match.

"It's nice to have the wood on certain players, or a certain team, but every Test match is different, depending on the conditions," added Warne.

"I'm sure they will come out with a point to prove, they're on a roll after winning yesterday, their tails are up and maybe they might come out to attack us in the next Test match."

'Lazy' Aussies blased by media

Meanwhile Australia's media has been summing up the MCG defeat.

"Not Again - Lazy Australia fall victim to Test jinx," said the Sydney Telegraph, while The Sydney Morning Herald offered "Poms stun lazy, frail Australians".

The papers also said England's win added new life to Ashes cricket although the Herald sacastically noted: "How's that for a miracle? England win a cricket Test."

On a more serious note many expressed concern about Australia's inability to get small final innings targets.

Melbourne was the fourth time in six years that Australia has failed to make less than 200 in the second innings to win a match.