The Australian cricket legend passed away on Friday at the age of 52 after suffering a heart attack, according to a statement from his management team.
Warne took more than 1,000 international wickets during his illustrious career, including 708 Test wickets – second only to Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan – and retired from cricket in 2013.
He was a key figure in the major Australian team in the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning multiple Ashes series and the World Cup in 1999.
Associated with his dominance with the ball was his charismatic personality, which transformed Warne from a cricket star to a global sports superstar.
Current Australia captain Pat Cummins described Warne as the “King” in his statement, saying, “Warney was an all-time great, a once-in-a-century cricketer, and his records will live on forever.”
“We all grew up watching Warney, we all put up posters on his wall, his earrings. What we loved so much about Varney was his showmanship, his charisma, his tactics, the way he himself Wanted Ko and the team around him to win matches for Australia will testify to the teams around him, and above all his incredible skills as a leg-spinner.
“There are a lot of people in this team and squad who still have him as a hero… the all-time favorite. The game has never been the same since Warney emerged and the game has never been the same since he left will not be.
“Rest in peace, King.”
ball of the century
Warne was not only a bowler capable of dominating matches single-handedly, he was also an entertainer, engaging in jokes with England fans and often the subject of tabloid headlines.
If his first year as an international gave some indication that he was destined for success, in Manchester in 1993 he bowled a ball that completely changed the perception about the bowler.
Just a year after making his international debut in 1992, Warne was playing his first Ashes series in England.
Dressed in his short, shiny blonde hair and armed with his now famous right-arm bowling action, Warne has been dubbed the “ball of the century”.
The delivery was going past the leg-stump of England batsman Mike Gatting. Then it sprung onto the pitch, swung dramatically and missed Gatting’s bat and surprisingly fell on the off-stump.
Like many others, Gatting looked surprised that such an initially harmless-looking delivery cost him his wicket – former England player Graham Gooch said: “He looked as though someone had eaten his lunch.”
Warne’s ability to fly and spin the ball to such devastating effect helped revive leg-spin from a forgotten art into a major component in modern day cricket.
“Best seat in the house to watch the maestro at work. Have often felt a little selfish, that Heels and I in particular are the only ones who had that thrill and joy at Test level. Rip Varney.
Other cricket stalwarts were quick to pay tribute to Warne’s remarkable talent.
“There was never a dull moment with you on or off the field. Will always cherish our on field duels and off field banter. You always had a special place for India and you had a special place for Indians.
“Too small!”
“Life is so fragile, but it’s so hard to fathom. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans around the world.”
‘I am shocked inside’
During his career spanning over 20 years, Warne has won many trophies and accolades.
In Australia’s victorious World Cup squad in 1999, Warne won the man of the match award in the final. He was named one of Wisden’s five best players of the 20th century, as well as being selected in an all-time Test World XI by Wisden to commemorate 150 years of the Cricketers’ Almanac.
Away from international cricket, Warne was also instrumental in making the Indian Premier League (IPL) the biggest identity it is today.
In 2008, he led Rajasthan Royals to the inaugural IPL title, something he believes gave the tournament “credibility because the underdog came good.”
“I was very fortunate to play in that era of Australian cricket where we were super successful. We beat every team at home and away, won the World Cup, the Ashes series, so we had some big results.
“It was great to be a part of all that with the Australian and do those things but the IPL, it was completely different.”
Warne played his entire domestic cricket career with his native Victoria in Australia, but with Hampshire in England.