Shane Warne RIP

I am stunned to learn of the death today of Aussie cricket legend Shane Keith Warne at the age of 52.

Warne was a sportsman of the most incredible skill: his first ball in test cricket, which removed Mike Gatting's off stump after landing significantly on the off side, was dubbed the "Ball of the century" and he went on to take 708 test wickets. No less an authority than Henry Blofeld suggested on Radio 4 this evening that Shane Warne might be the best bowler who has ever lived.

I think it says something about the man that those who most feared him on the pitch were his best friends off it - he was said to have "tormented batsmen around the world" and nobody more than England, yet the England Test Cricket team held a minute's silence for him ahead of the fourth day of their tour match in the West Indies.

Rest in Peace.




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