Bolt's technique during the Olympic relay victory ceremony clearly impressed legendary bowler Warne
Usain Bolt has once again taken athletics by storm. But one sport doesn't appear to be enough for the charismatic runner, who is now considering an invitation from Shane Warne to play Twenty20 cricket in Australia next season.
Bolt retained his 100 and 200 metres titles at the London 2012 Olympics, as well as setting a new world record time in the men's 4x100m relay to claim gold with his Jamaican team-mates.
But the sprinter also has a knack for other sports, and has played cricket in his home nation at junior level.
Bolt, a massive fan of the sport, admitted to Australia's Channel Nine that legendary leg-spinner Warne has offered him the opportunity to participate in Australia's Big Bash League and that he is giving it some serious thought.
"If I get the chance I will definitely try because I know it's going to be a lot of fun," Bolt said.
"I don't know how good I am. I will probably have to get a lot of practice in."
Bolt certainly played plenty of cricket as a young boy growing up in the West Indies, and drew attention from around the world in 2009 when, during a charity match, he clean-bowled compatriot Chris Gayle, hailed as one of the most destructive batsmen in the game.
Melbourne Stars president Eddie McGuire had pitched the idea to Bolt in an interview during the Olympics, where Bolt was one of the undisputed stars, before Warne followed up with a formal offer.
"He [Warne] contacted me and asked me about if I am serious and if I really want to do it then he can put in a few words that should get it done," Bolt added.
"So we will see if I get the time off. I will try.
Bolt said he can relate to the high-tempo style of T20 cricket.
"Twenty20, I love it. Just the fact that it is so exciting, it's about going hard the whole time, not just about playing shots.
"It's about being aggressive and I like that style of batsman."
Mike McKenna, project manager for the BBL on behalf of Cricket Australia, added further credibility to the notion while stressing that such an idea would only be entertained if Bolt was guaranteed to take the project seriously.
"We'd be very keen to have someone like Usain Bolt involved in some way in the BBL," McKenna said.
"He's very keen on cricket, he's been close to the Australian cricket team and I'd imagine he is pretty quick between the wickets.
"But we would want to make sure that any athletes can play another code to an appropriate level. The competition has gone beyond the novelty factor."
The Big Bash League runs for five weeks between December 7 and January 9.
Bolt had already expressed an interest in professional football, declaring his ambition of undertaking a trial at Manchester United — something stalwart defender Rio Ferdinand offered to help make happen.