Shane Warne might have passed on March 4, but the cricket fraternity and fans across the globe are yet to come to terms with the news – that shook the cricketing spectrum. Tributes have been pouring in from all corners for Warne – who revived the art of leg-spin bowling after making his debut and is arguably the greatest leg-spinner to have played the game. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who also led Australia with Warne in the side, broke down remembering the spin maverick.
Warne, who passed away as a result of a suspected heart attack in Thailand on March 4, was one of the most popular figures not just in Australia, but for fans across the globe – who were thoroughly entertained with the magic he produced with the cricket ball.
In an interview on 7 News, Ponting said he was shocked to hear the news and it still doesn’t seem real to him. “I was shocked I think like probably the rest of the world. I mean I’ve got the messages when I woke up this morning. I went to bed last night knowing that I had to take my daughters for netball and then was confronted with what didn’t seem quite real at that time and even now probably doesn’t really seem like it’s real either so I’ve had a few hours now to digest it all and think about how a part of my life he was and reflect on a lot of those memories through the years,” Ponting said as he fought tears. Warne was the second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket with 1001 scalps to his name, only behind his rival Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan, who claimed 1347 wickets.
Ponting paid his tribute to Warne and hailed him as the best bowler he has played with or against during his decorated career. “Halfway through my career when we turned up to do coaching clinics and whatever else, every young kid in Australia wanted to be more than one of the bold leg spinners. He is going to go down as one of the all-time greats of the game if not one the greatest. I’ve never played with a more better and competitive bowler, someone who changed and revolutionised spin bowling back into,” he added.
Ever since the news of Warne’s demise broke, several cricketers have recalled the generosity with which Warne helped not just his fellow Australians, but everybody who was close to him.
