The dawn of 92’ was a significant period in the test cricket avenue. The great Allan Border handed over a baggy green, to him on a warm summer morning. Batting first against the touring Indians, the Australians managed a 313 courtesy serious shelling of Boon’s forearms. The Indians then, were a Pentium among the old ENIAC’s of the cricket ring with highly accomplished processors and fresh skins in the form of the Shastris, Vishwanaths and a teenaged Tendulkar. Like any other debutante, he tripped on the odd pebble. Shastri chopped, cut and drove his way to a double hundred until he; a young blonde lad had him deceived. He was Shane Keith Warne. Stalwart Shastri was victim #001.
Later that year, on the first ball of his ashes debut, he struck a golden spot on the pitch, or rather, grinded a golden lining on his right arm when he rattled a Mr. Mike Gatting. He was the architect of the ball of the century.
The almighty Warne, chose to bloom using the neglected art of leg spin, something very few trotted towards. The pacemen flourished in herds. The art was raked out and traversed to its nucleus with Warne being one of the finest exponents, the emblem of leg break. Aptly titled as the ‘Spin King’ Warne exhaustively nailed every cell of the tissue and managed a 700+ tally. With him choosing to cool his heels in the future, who knows how close the second best could get.
“Every time there's been a script written, I've just about done it. I suppose I'm allowed one that I don't get every now and then.”
As a fairy tale career draws to a close the shutters of class, leg spin and entertainment could well rumble over a foot. The contemporary cricketing fraternity and its disciples could well have witnessed one of the greatest happenings to the sport.
We hope, that the twilight of his career would lead to an exponential catharsis on the numbers of his tribe- the leggies.
And on the day he quit,
"What he has done for the game is immeasurable really. The fact that he revived the dying art of leg-spin bowling and just the way he has gone about his cricket, it's just been exciting when Shane Warne is involved." - Allan Border.
"For me, he was the reason you played cricket. To be in a Test against him, you knew you were in a battle with Warne, verbally, physically, mentally and technically," - Nasser Hussain.
"As a wicketkeeper there's no better spot to be than standing behind the stumps to Shane Warne at any time really. But when he's on song it's quite mesmerising, so he brings a great deal of joy to me, just like everyone else sitting around watching. He makes us look good because he's so brilliant," - Adam Gilchrist.
….. And most importantly,
"My journey and my ride in international cricket has been phenomenal. I don't think I could have written the script any better," - Shane Warne.
Later that year, on the first ball of his ashes debut, he struck a golden spot on the pitch, or rather, grinded a golden lining on his right arm when he rattled a Mr. Mike Gatting. He was the architect of the ball of the century.
The almighty Warne, chose to bloom using the neglected art of leg spin, something very few trotted towards. The pacemen flourished in herds. The art was raked out and traversed to its nucleus with Warne being one of the finest exponents, the emblem of leg break. Aptly titled as the ‘Spin King’ Warne exhaustively nailed every cell of the tissue and managed a 700+ tally. With him choosing to cool his heels in the future, who knows how close the second best could get.
“Every time there's been a script written, I've just about done it. I suppose I'm allowed one that I don't get every now and then.”
As a fairy tale career draws to a close the shutters of class, leg spin and entertainment could well rumble over a foot. The contemporary cricketing fraternity and its disciples could well have witnessed one of the greatest happenings to the sport.
We hope, that the twilight of his career would lead to an exponential catharsis on the numbers of his tribe- the leggies.
And on the day he quit,
"What he has done for the game is immeasurable really. The fact that he revived the dying art of leg-spin bowling and just the way he has gone about his cricket, it's just been exciting when Shane Warne is involved." - Allan Border.
"For me, he was the reason you played cricket. To be in a Test against him, you knew you were in a battle with Warne, verbally, physically, mentally and technically," - Nasser Hussain.
"As a wicketkeeper there's no better spot to be than standing behind the stumps to Shane Warne at any time really. But when he's on song it's quite mesmerising, so he brings a great deal of joy to me, just like everyone else sitting around watching. He makes us look good because he's so brilliant," - Adam Gilchrist.
….. And most importantly,
"My journey and my ride in international cricket has been phenomenal. I don't think I could have written the script any better," - Shane Warne.
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