The iconic Shane Warne passes away at the age of 52

Australia legend and one of the greatest cricket players of all time, Shane Warne has passed away at the age of 52.

The leg-spinner took 708 wickets in Test matches, the second most of all time, and broke the record for the most wickets in a calendar year (96) during his remarkable 15-year international career.

Cricket Australia released a statement following the shocking news.

“We are shocked and saddened by the passing of Shane Warne.

A true cricketing genius.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans all across the world.”

Former Australia Test vice-captain Adam Gilchrist also paid tribute to Warne. Gilchrist was the wicket-keeper for the national team and described the feeling of standing behind the stumps when Warne was producing his magic.

“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.”

‘The King’ had the second most five-wicket and ten-wicket hauls in the Test format and ranked third in most wickets taken by LBW. Warne was also dangerous with the bat. He holds the record for most runs without reaching a century (3154), with a best score of 99 against New Zealand.

Warne was a constant thorn in England’s side when they faced each other in the Ashes. He took 195 wickets against England, the most by any player against a single team and most in Ashes history.

With his first ball of the 1993 series in England, Warne bowled Mike Gatting out with a spell-binding delivery that became well-known as the ‘ball of the century.’

He went on to win seven Ashes series in total, only losing one, and retired after a 5-0 whitewash in the 2006-07 series. He was so brilliant against the Three Lions, English fans chanted ‘we only wish you were English’ as Warne fielded near the boundary rope, and he showed his gratitude through a bow.

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Warne played a pivotal role in Australia’s run to the 1996 World Cup final before losing to Sri Lanka but triumphed three years later in the same competition. He took four wickets in the final against Pakistan, where he was named man of the match.

In the latter parts of his career, Warne played for the Melbourne Stars and Rajasthan Royals in the Big Bash and Indian Premier League respectively. During his time at these teams, he inspired another generation of young cricketers to try and emulate his wild leg-spin deliveries.

After retiring from all forms of the game, he went on to coach at the Royals and more recently helped the London Spirit at last year’s inaugural the Hundred.

Tributes continue to flow in for one of the greatest to grace the game. The MCG showed their love for their king of spin as they renamed the Great Southern Stand to the S.K. Warne Stand.

Current Test captain Pat Cummins described the impact of Warne beautifully.