The cricket world is in shock after the sudden demise of the legendary Australian bowler Shane Warne. According to reports, Warne died of a suspected heart attack early Saturday morning in Thailand. The 52-year-old former cricketer and TV broadcaster, was found unconscious in his villa in Koh Samui on Friday 4 2022. The doctors tried to revive him but to no avail.
Last year in August, Warne contracted coronavirus and was put on a ventilator for a short time. And, this was after he had received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Unbelievable Records of Shane Warne in His Cricket Career
Shane Kieth Warne was considered by many as the greatest spinner of all time. He received thousands of tributes on social media, from including cricketers, celebrities, and politicians. The entire cricket fraternity has been feeling a great sense of loss after his death. Players and coaches have commended the exceptional 15-year career of Shane Warne. He took a total of 1001 wickets in 339 matches from 1992 – 2007. It is the second best record after Muttiah Muralitharan who took 1347 wickets in his career. Warne retired in 2007 and became a commentator. He came out of retirement to captain Rajasthan Royals in the first season of IPL (Indian Premier League) and led them to victory.
Tributes poured in from all over the world inside and outside the world of cricket. Many expressed great sorrow on the news of his death. Some remembered how Warne revolutionized spin bowling at the time when spinners were just used to give fast bowlers a breather between overs.
Here are the reactions of some cricketers who paid their respects to the one of the greatest in the game.
Sir Vivian Richards on Shane Warn Death
From one legend to another, the West Indies talisman said that the death of Shane Warne was a huge loss for cricket. The Australian was an entire university for aspiring spinners.
Adam Gilchrist
Warne’s Australian teammate Adam Gilchrist was numb after the death of his friend. He mentioned how he and Ian Healy, two of the greatest wicket keepers of Australia, had the chance to watch Warne’s game from the best angle possible. He also described the feeling to be selfish as all others in the spectators were quite far from where the magic happened.
Brian Lara
Heartbroken Lara, who knew exactly what Warne was made of, could not believe his long time rival was gone. Both of them put up extremely heated and entertaining matches that made cricket the game it was today. Warne played a key role in shifting the powerbase from West Indies to Australia in the 1990s. Most memorably in the 1995 Kingston Test, West Indies were all over when Warne came in and changed the course of the match. He took down the unstoppable Brian Lara with an inside edge right in the hands of wicket keeper Ian Healy and brought Australia in control. On the other hand, Lara remained unbeaten against Warne in 1999 Test Series. Lara showed no mercy to the Australian throughout the series as he scored 546 runs and became player of the series. Shane Warne took only one wicket in the first two tests, leading to his controversial axing for the final one.
Ian Botham
Former England cricketer and the Knight of the Order of the British Empire, Ian Botham shared his saddness on the loss of his on and off the field friend. He also sent love to Warne’s children.
Shadab Khan
Pakistani bowler Shadab Khan said that Warne inspired him to become a leg spinner as well.
Virat Kohli
Indian batter Virat Kohli considered Warne as the greatest bowler ever to spin the cricket ball. He could not process the death of Shane Warne, who he not only knew as a player but as a person as well.
Ramiz Raja
Former cricketer, commentator and now the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ramiz Raja exclaimed that a good part of cricket has died along with Shane Warne.
