Shane Warne has died

[cherryowen]

When I read the headline that popped up on my news feed earlier today, I could not believe it.

Utterly shocked and saddened, as someone who has watched test cricket since the age of 13 (52 this year...........) and watched live on telly Warne bowl "The Gatting Ball".

Someone else posted a link to "The Strauss Ball" which was equally extraordinary, but I also remember this delivery to Chanderpaul:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G_c8Nphexg



Thing was, Warne was not just a technical wizard but had a sharp cricketing brain as well. I remember many times under Ponting's captaincy that RP would consult with Warne WRT field positioning and such like. Here is a great example of SW teeing up a batsman for humiliation:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMsL0s6_aRs&t=...

Somewhere on YT is a Warne masterclass on leg spin explaining how he bowls things like the "Slider" or the "Flipper".

Cricket lost a giant today. A copper-bottomed legend.

The best spin bowler ever.

[Seventy]

My brother played against him when he played for Imperials CC.

If my memory serves me correctly he scored a century and didn’t bowl.

[Cheib]

One of those headlines you read that genuinely stops you in your tracks…a true sporting icon. Best spin bowler that ever played the game and I’d say a man that genuinely changed the way the game was played….lots of people can put revs on the ball but he did it with such amazing control and variety, never bowled a bad ball and so many great batsmen looked utterly lost when facing him.

Greatest compliment you can pay him are the comments of genuine love and affection from all the people that played with him from every nation.

[Crumpet]

Wouldn’t normally comment on deaths of people I don’t know but I grew up watching him destroy English batsmen. I’ll always remember nervously watching every single ball and being hugely relieved when his over was….over. And a character off the field to boot. What a legend.

[GloverMart]

Seventy said:

My brother played against him when he played for Imperials CC.

If my memory serves me correctly he scored a century and didn’t bowl.

Was that in Bristol? I know he played for a local club around here somewhere and apparently lodged in a house owned by a friend of mine.

[rallye101]

GloverMart said:

So sad reading this. Only saw a tribute from him earlier on to Rod Marsh who died from a heart attack yesterday.

52 really is no age at all to anyone, let alone an elite athlete.

Yes, shocking....12hr later!!!

[DeejRC]

Downright bloody annoying. Can all the interesting ppl stop bloody dying please?!

‘Played Warnie.

[cherryowen]

DeejRC said:

‘Played Warnie.

I think that will be Adam Gilchrist's epitaph

[robsco]

cherryowen said:

DeejRC said:

‘Played Warnie.

I think that will be Adam Gilchrist's epitaph

‘Bowlin’ Shane!

[MitchT]

Shocked and saddened. I don't even follow cricket yet I considered him a household name, such was his reputation. RIP.

[micky metro]

not sure of exact details, but against england, one of the english players asked him , why he was so fat, obviously trying to unsettle his bowling, he answered, every time i sh*g your wife, she gives me a biscuit.

[DeejRC]

Nope metro…that was Eddie Hemings line.

[JuanCarlosFandango]

One of the best bowlers of all time on any measure, and the man I would least like to bat against. RIP

[Square Leg]

DeejRC said:

Nope metro…that was Eddie Hemings line.

It was Eddo Brandes to Glenn McGrath.

[Seventy]

GloverMart said:

Was that in Bristol? I know he played for a local club around here somewhere and apparently lodged in a house owned by a friend of mine.

No. Cornwall. They were a touring side.

[GloverMart]

Seventy said:

GloverMart said:

Was that in Bristol? I know he played for a local club around here somewhere and apparently lodged in a house owned by a friend of mine.

No. Cornwall. They were a touring side.

Ah right. He played for a team called Imperial CC in Bristol around 1989 as an overseas player too.

[DeejRC]

Square Leg said:

DeejRC said:

Nope metro…that was Eddie Hemings line.

It was Eddo Brandes to Glenn McGrath.

Ah, ty Leggie!

[alfa phil]

One of my favourite quotes from him in his Autobiography No spin. Talking about the" baggie green " worship.to be honest they(team mates) make me want to puke with it I mean who wears a green cricket cap at Wimbledon, it's just embarrassing. Refering to Justin Langer trying to force the baggie on the team. Loved that. He never went over the top with the records he broke.
No better character anywhere. Top man . For an Aussie.

[Itsallicanafford]

My number 1 pick for an all time XI, legend.

[poo at Paul's]

Some speculation as to the circumstances leading up to his death, with his (or an) agent saying he had been on some 14 day "ridiculous diet", and it seeming that there was a group there including the director of his movie, at the hotel / villa. Also reports of two pools of blood at the scene as well as a pool of vomit.

Sounds like a chaotic scene which of course can happen in a sudden death scenario, but does all sound a bit odd. There are some reports of masseuses having been ordered for the room, too.
Was this some trip to launch or promote his Amazon Movie? First reports suggested he had a villa there and was just living there?