Shane Warne: An Enigma, A Legend

This week, Shane Warne played his last game of professional cricket. Some might say, so what? For someone who has grown up watching him do things to the cricket ball, seldom done, it is an end of an era.

Shane Warne's Farwell: End of an Era

When someone hears the name, Shane Warne, a picture of a blond leggie would form in his mind. Also, the word controversy follows. When Warne looks at his career path, there would be crests and troughs. Although he made his Test debut in 1991-92 series against India, my first memory of Shane Warne was in the 1993 Ashes series. Everyone remembers his first ever Ashes delivery, a big turning leg break taking out Mike Gatting. Moving ahead, he played a pivotal role along with Glenn Mcgrath in setting up many Australian victories. He was at the forefront when Australia started becoming world beaters.

World Cup 1996 came and went and although I didn’t see the best of Warne, he helped Australia reach the finals. He came back to India in 1998 under Mark Taylor and in what was billed as the battle between him and Tendulkar. Tendulkar treated him with disdain in the series, including a double century in a warm up game. He also took him apart in the subsequent triseries known as the Sharjah Sandstorm. A year later in England, however, he would reinvent himself and play a pivotal role in the semis and finals of World Cup, earning Man of the Match awards in both games. His low point would ultimately be taking a banned diuretic, for which he was suspended for a year in 2003. He returned, stronger than ever, taking a staggering 40 wickets in the 2005 Ashes. He would then retire after the Ashes victory in 2007 having become the first man to take 700 Test wickets. Some of his unforgettable deliveries which will always be etched in my memory are a sizzler from a pothole to Chanderpaul, Jacques Kallis dismissed from round the wicket for his 300^th, Basit Ali being bowled round the legs and the ball of this century to Andrew Strauss.

Now, according to me, he is the greatest bowler of my generation, and one of the greatest in the history of the game. He is better than Muttiah Muralitharan, one because action wise there is no controversy attached to Warne. Secondly, being a spinner from Australia , most of the pitches are not spin friendly and finally, because of the bowling attack of Australia, the wickets more often than not got shared around, unlike for Sri Lanka where a large chunk of wickets were shared by Murali and Vaas alone. He is a far better bat than Murali, and if he hadn’t played a reckless shot against NewZealand at Perth, he could have got that elusive Test hundred.

People may argue that one can’t call Warne the greatest as he was involved in a spate of controversies. Well, all I have to say against this is that what he does in his personal life should not be anybody’s concern. He got his punishment for all his off field antics by never getting to captain Australia in a test match. He captained and coached the Rajasthan Royals to the IPL title in 2008.Sometimes he does get dragged into things because of his volatile personality. Recently, one remembers the fine of $50k for his altercations with Mr.Sanjay Dixit. And the BCCI would only punish Warne.Fair ? I don’t think so.

He is still the best leg spinner in Australia, at the age of 42. No wonder there were calls for his return to international cricket during last year’s Ashes. It is also rumoured that Daryl Cullinan is contemplating a return to cricket after Warne’s retiremement.Unless he does a Martin Crowe , which is highly unlikely, we have seen the last of the four step run up and the ball fizzing like a top after leaving the blond magician. His last match was fittingly against Sachin Tendulkar, acknowledged by him as the best batsman he had ever bowled to. BCCI would not even give him a fair farewell, not even a lap of honour. Any other country would give a fitting farewell to the game’s greats, just wait for Tendulkar’s final games in England and Australia.

Some quotes on the great man Warne from his peers:

“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.”

Former Australian captain Allan Border “He was a resilient, courageous and tough opponent. Warnie was always a match winner because he had a great repertoire and a sense for the occasion. The greater the stakes the better the performance.” Former Australian captain Steve Waugh “His presence on the cricket field has not only inspired Australian cricket teams but also made life very difficult for opposition teams. It’s always a significant advantage to walk on the field with Shane Warne.” Australian coach John Buchanan “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.” Former England captain Nasser Hussain “As a wicket-keeper 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.” Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist “In the space of a short time, he’s turned the game upside down, changed it in concept. I think his greatest single achievement is not necessarily the 700 wickets, but the fact that when Wisden chose the five cricketers of the century, they chose Donald Bradman, Garry Sobers, Jack Hobbs, and Viv Richards – and Shane Warne who had only been playing since 1991. That’s quite remarkable.” Former Australian captain Richie Benaud