On Friday, Australian superstar and one of the greatest Test cricketers of all time Shane Warne died of a suspected heart attack aged just 52, sparking a global outpouring of grief from the sporting world. As Australia awoke to the news on the early hours of Saturday, fans laid flowers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where there is a bronze statue in Warne’s honour.
#RIPShaneWarne
— The Field (@thefield_in) March 5, 2022
Possibly no better tribute to pay to Warne than a used red cricket ball that says "Thank you ♥️"
It sits alongside flowers at Warne's statue outside MCG. 💐
📸 William West / AFP
Read @clutchplay's tribute, of a short walk to genius: https://t.co/iTgv3rizLq pic.twitter.com/uyIq1z5GKL
Cricketers from the past and the present including Sachin Tendulkar, Viv Richards, Ben Stokes, Virat Kohli and Joe Root paid their tributes to the late leg-spinner.
‘Stunned, shocked, miserable’: Sachin Tendulkar leads tributes as legendary Shane Warne dies at 52
Devastated, in disbelief and shock: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma pay tributes to Shane Warne
Warne’s former Australian team mates - from Ricky Ponting to Glenn McGrath, from Shane Watson to Brett Lee - also poured their hearts out in touching tributes to the Wizard of Oz.
Hard to put this into words. I first met him when I was 15 at the Academy. He gave me my nickname.
— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) March 5, 2022
We were teammates for more than a decade, riding all the highs and lows together.
Through it all he was someone you could always count on, someone who loved his family... pic.twitter.com/KIvo7s9Ogp
Numb. The highlight of my cricketing career was to keep wicket to Warnie. Best seat in the house to watch the maestro at work. Have often felt a tad selfish, that Heals and I pretty much exclusively are the only ones who had that thrill and pleasure at Test level. Rip Warnie.💔😢
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) March 4, 2022
Can’t believe it 💔
— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) March 4, 2022
The greatest bowler to play the game ever ! The RockStar of cricket ! Gone too soon.
RIP mate 😢 pic.twitter.com/SNAGISCmIz
Warnie, it was a true honour to have played with you and I will always cherish the memories that we shared in our cricketing adventures.
— Michael Bevan (@mbevan12) March 4, 2022
My deepest condolences to his family and close friends.
RIP Warnie you be greatly missed pic.twitter.com/pxFEv3aJR9
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) March 4, 2022
This just unfathomable to lose another great of our cricket family. Warnie was the ultimate entertainer on and off the field, never a dull moment who lived life to the fullest.Deepest condolences to his loved ones.
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) March 4, 2022
RIP mate.
Devastated.💔
— Jason Gillespie 🌱 (@dizzy259) March 4, 2022
RIP mate.
Diz.
I am numb!!! My hero, my mentor, my great friend, Shane Warne is no longer with us. Warnie, the impact you had on this great game and everyone around it is immeasurable. Thank you for being so bloody good to me. I am going to miss you so much. Rest In Peace SK 💔💔
— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) March 4, 2022
RIP Warnie🙏 God only made one model of you my friend. #warnie #baggygreen #kingofspin pic.twitter.com/qIcgo6jEke
— Matthew Hayden AM (@HaydosTweets) March 5, 2022
Ian Healy reveals what he said to Shane before that famous Basit Ali wicket 👀
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) March 5, 2022
📺 Watch the #ShaneWarne tribute on @foxtel CH501 or stream on @kayosports pic.twitter.com/AWb5dRKXyJ
“I shed a few tears and started drinking whiskey and guava juice of all things” - AB when he found out the news 🗣
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) March 5, 2022
📺 Watch the #ShaneWarne tribute on @foxtel CH501 or stream on @kayosports pic.twitter.com/MiOwCNVOgq
.@gilly381 on where Warnie was when the Scott Morrison joined the Fox Cricket panel 😂
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) March 5, 2022
📺 Watch the #ShaneWarne tribute on @Foxtel CH501 or stream on @kayosports pic.twitter.com/npudamKC33
Way way to young. Devastating news with the passing of SK Warne. Once in a lifetime cricketer. Charisma, leg spinner with a fast bowlers mentality.
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) March 4, 2022
Hollywood type lifestyle
Thoughts and condolences to the whole Warne family #RipWarney
Ian Healy
“To score runs for long periods against Shane Warne with such accuracy, coupled with the skill and ability to spin a ball so well, was nearly impossible. Not too many players lasted five hours against our attack with Warne in it,” said the former wicket-keeper batter in a conversation with Fox Sports.
“What made it great, I think his accuracy gave him great confidence and then he could spend his energy talking to the batsmen at the other end.
“Putting challenges out to them, criticising them, and even most dumbfounding was complimenting them. And I got to see the batsmen’s reactions from my end of the pitch.”
Andrew Symonds
“He was just a generous man,” Symonds told Fox Sports.
He added: “I remember, I had been in and out of the side for a while. He came to me one day and he said, ‘Roy, you know you can do this aye?’ And I said, ‘mate, it’s an intimidating place the Australian dressing shed and I had doubts. He said, ‘Roy, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. It’s time for you to start asking some questions and don’t be afraid.’ And I tell people that regularly.”