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Shane Warne

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Shane Warne
Warne in 2015
Source: [1], 28 December 2006

Shane Keith Warne (born 13 September 1969 in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia), is an Australian cricketer, and captain of Hampshire. He is generally regarded to be the greatest leg-spin bowler in cricket history. [2]

In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century. Warne despite being plagued by scandals off the field throughout his playing career, has — since October 2004 — held the record for the most wickets taken by any bowler in Test cricket. On 26 December 2006 he became the first bowler to take 700 Test wickets, making him the most successful bowler in the history of Test cricket.

On 21 December 2006, at a press conference at the MCG, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in Australia and will play his final match in the fifth Test of the 2006-07 Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He will continue to play for Hampshire for another two years. [3]

Career

Warne made his first-class cricket debut on 15 February 1991, taking 0/61 and 1/41 for Victoria against Western Australia at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. Warne was then selected in the Australia B team which toured Zimbabwe in September 1991. His best performance was 7/52 in a four-day match. Upon returning to Australia, he took 3/14 and 4/42 for Australia A against the West Indies in December 1991. The incumbent spinner in the Australian Test Team, Peter Taylor, had taken only one wicket in the first two tests, so Warne was brought into the team for the Third Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground a week later.

He had an undistinguished Test debut, taking 1/150 (Ravi Shastri caught by Dean Jones for 206) off 45 overs, and recording figures of 1/228 in his first Test series. His poor return continued in the first innings against Sri Lanka at Colombo in the next year, in which he recorded 0/107. However, a spell of 3/11 in the second innings contributed to a remarkable Australian win and arguably saved his Test position. He solidified his Test position when he took 7/52 in a match winning performance against the West Indies in the 1992/93 series in Melbourne.

Despite the inauspicious start to his Test career, he has since revolutionised cricket thinking with his mastery of leg spin, which many cricket followers had come to regard as a dying art, due to its immense difficulty of execution. For all his wickets and on-pitch (and off-pitch) controversies, Warne's place in cricketing posterity is assured by the fact that he has overturned the domination of cricket by fast bowling that prevailed for two decades before his debut. Despite the presence of high quality spin bowlers such as Abdul Qadir on the Test scene, Australia's fast bowlers Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson had dominated cricket in the early 1970s; while from 1976 until the early 1990s, the West Indies had lost only one (ill-tempered and controversial) Test series with a bowling attack almost exclusively comprising fast bowlers. In the early 1990s, with the West Indies on the wane, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram of Pakistan were assuming the mantle of the world's most feared bowlers. It was in that context that Warne's tormenting of batsmen became so significant, rather than his actual statistics. His humiliation of Gatting and subsequent hold on - in particular - English and South African batsmen provided a welcome sight for cricket watchers weary of the relentless intimidation by West Indian bowlers of the 1980s and 1990s. His treatment of South African batsman Daryl Cullinan was such that Cullinan was said to have sought the help of a therapist to overcome Warne's psychological hold[1].

Warne combined the ability to turn the ball prodigiously, even on unhelpful pitches, with unerring accuracy and a wide variation of deliveries (notable among these being the flipper). Gideon Haigh, the Australian jounalist, said of Warne upon his retirement, "It was said of Augustus that he found Rome brick and left it marble: the same is true of Warne and spin bowling."[4]

Many of his most spectacular performances have occurred in Ashes series against England, whose players' inexperience against leg spin bowling made them particularly vulnerable. However, with feats like the famous "Gatting Ball", otherwise known as the "Ball of the Century" which spun sharply and bowled a bemused Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes series, most of the credit is Warne's. Conversely, he has struggled against India, particularly the great Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar: his bowling average against India is a poor 47.18 runs per wicket, compared with his overall average of less than 26 & it won't be wrong to say that the toughest batsman he has faced in his career is none other than Sachin Tendulkar.[5].

Warne has been highly effective bowling in one-day cricket, something few other leg spin bowlers have managed. He also captained Australia on several occasions in one-day internationals, winning ten matches and losing only one. Warne had intended to retire from ODI cricket at the end of the 2003 World Cup: as it transpired, his last game for Australia was in January 2003. However, he did appear for the ICC World XI for the Tsunami benefit match in 2005.

In March 2004, he became the second cricketer, after Courtney Walsh of the West Indies, to take 500 Test wickets. He broke the record for most career wickets in Test cricket on 15 October 2004 during the Second Test against India at Chennai, overtaking his great spin bowling rival, Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka. (As both Warne and Muralitharan are still playing at the moment, the record may change hands again, though Muralitharan has said he has no interest in regaining it.Despite this, Warne's imminent retirement could lead to Muralitharan to do just that.) On 11 August 2005 at Old Trafford, in the Third Ashes Test, he became the first bowler in history to take 600 Test wickets. In 2005, he also broke the record for the number of wickets in a calendar year, with 96 wickets. Warne's ferocious compettiveness was a feature of the now legendary 2005 Ashes series. Warne took 40 wickets at an average of 19.92 in the series and scored 249 runs prompting some to comment that he could now make a justifiable claim to being a great all-rounder. Now he needs only 1 more wicket to become the only second bowler to take 1000 wickets in international cricket (tests & ODI's) after Sri lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.

Warne is also noted for his exuberant (and sometimes effective) lower-order batting, once famously being dismissed for 99 with a reckless shot on what was later shown to be a no ball. In fact, of all Test cricketers Warne has scored the most Test runs without having scored a century, with two scores in the nineties being his best efforts. In 2006 Warne and Glenn McGrath reportedly lost a bet of which bowler would be the first to get a Test century with fellow Australian bowler Jason Gillespie after Gillespie scored a record double-century as a night-watchman against Bangladesh.

Warne is also a useful slip fielder. He has taken this role on a full-time basis since his shoulder injury. Slip fielding requires quick hands but not much throwing, and hence is ideal for the post-injury Warne. He has performed well in this role and is currently seventh in the list of most catches as a fielder in test cricket.

File:Warne 2006.JPG
Warne (right) bowling to Ian Bell at Brisbane Cricket Ground in 2006

Warne began the 2006/2007 Ashes campaign with an indifferent test in Brisbane and a poor first innings showing — his worst figures ever, in fact — at Adelaide. However, his second innings heroics, including bowling Kevin Pietersen around the legs, triggered England's fifth-day collapse and Australia's historic victory. Warne again bowled well in the second innings in the third Test, and took the final wicket of Monty Panesar as Australia regained the Ashes. Just days after these events, on 21 December 2006 Warne announced his retirement, to come into effect after the fifth Ashes Test match at the SCG. (He will honour his contract with Hampshire but will play no further competitive cricket within or for Australia). He became the first cricketer to reach the 700-wicket milestone in his second last test, on Boxing Day 2006. Warne said that it was his intention to "go out on top," adding that he might have retired after the 2005 Ashes series, had Australia won. [6] Commentators Tony Greig and Mike Gatting were interviewed immediately after this announcement and both expressed surprise and sadness on hearing this news which was by now spinning around the world.

File:Warne 700 Cricinfo Screenshot.PNG
Cricinfo after Warne reached 700 test wickets

Warne achieved his 700th test wicket at 3.18pm 26 December[2] (AEST) by bowling English batsman Andrew Strauss out at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the final time Warne will play professionally at that ground. This was the first occasion that a player had taken 700 career wickets. The wicket was described as a "classic Warne dismissal" to which the crowd of 89,155 gave a standing ovation.[3] Cricinfo dedicated a whole section to Warne's 700th wicket on the site's main page - the wicket receiving more coverage than New Zealand's Twenty20 victory over Sri Lanka. Warne finished the first innings of the match with figures of 5-39 off 17.2 overs, and bowled 19 overs in the second innings, taking two wickets for 46 runs. He won the "Man of the Match" award for the game for his efforts, which included scoring 40 not out in Australia's only innings.

In the last match of the 2006 Ashes Series at the SCG, Sydney spectators will bid him farewell in his very last Test match, just as they witnessed his Test debut on 2 January 1992. Thus, a career spanning exactly 15 years will end where it all began.

Controversies

Despite nearly universal recognition of Warne's talents, his reputation with fans and cricket authorities is mixed, owing to a succession of intemperate actions in both his professional and his private life.

Bookmakers

In 1998, Warne admitted that he and Mark Waugh had taken money from a man known only as John, who was later discovered to be operating with bookmakers.[4] The money was stated to be for pitch and weather reports.

Positive drugs test

In February 2003, just prior to the start of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Warne was sent home after a drug test during the one-day series in Australia earlier in the year returned a positive result for a banned diuretic.

Warne initially claimed that he took only one of what he called a "fluid tablet" – the prescription drug Moduretic — on David Stretton's suggestion, in an attempt to improve his appearance (Warne has battled weight problems throughout his career). Warne claimed ignorance of the banned nature of the tablet he took, as well as much of the drug policy of the Australian Cricket Board (despite extensive briefings on the matter in the past). It should however be noted that this drug is a known masking agent for anabolic steroids, and many accused Warne of using the banned substances to recover from a shoulder injury which had side-lined him at the time.[citation needed]

Charged with using "a prohibited method to enhance performance", Warne faced a two-year ban from cricket if found guilty. Considerable pressure was placed on the panel considering his case by Dick Pound, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, who in comments described by the head of the Australian Sports Drug Agency as "highly inappropriate," poured scorn on Warne's excuse and stated that Australian sport was well-known for accusing others of cheating but was considerably less enthusiastic about prosecuting its own. Pound's comments were at least partly endorsed by sportspeople such as former Olympic swimming champion Kieren Perkins, who expressed concern that a lenient verdict would make a mockery of Australia's stand against drugs in sport.

In the end, the panel found Warne guilty of breaching the ACB's drug code, and imposed a one-year ban. It was further revealed, and confirmed by Warne in a subsequent television interview, that he had actually taken two of the pills. Warne's testimony, and that of his mother, was described by the panel as "vague and inconsistent". The panel decided against imposing the full two-year ban because the drug would have had no performance-enhancing effect, there was no evidence that Warne used the diuretic to mask steroid use, and medical opinion stated that steroids would not have enhanced Warne's recovery from a shoulder injury he had suffered several weeks earlier, or assisted his game in any case. A disappointed Warne initially considered appealing, but decided against it, as several people, including Pound, pointed out that the penalty could have been increased if an appeal was made.

During his suspension, he considered working for the St Kilda Australian rules football club as an assistant coach, before the Australian Football League told the club that it would be inappropriate to have somebody suspended for a drug offence advising its players. He also received invitations to play in various celebrity "park cricket" teams, and the newly renamed Cricket Australia reversed its decision on whether Warne, as a contracted player, should be allowed to play in such matches. He also became a TV commentator for Channel 9 in Australia during this time.

Personal life

Warne has 3 children - Brooke, Summer and Jackson with his ex-wife Simone Callahan. The pair separated after Warne's alleged infidelity.

Marital infidelities

Warne's private life has been beset by scandals and subjected to scrutiny by British tabloid newspapers. He came under criticism for text messaging a woman whilst on tour in South Africa, accused of sending lewd and harassing messages. However, the woman who made the claims (Helen Cohen Alon) was subsequently charged with extortion in her own country.[7]

Further allegations of Warne having extra-marital affairs broke in 2005 as Australia began its tour of England in preparation for The Ashes. On 25 June 2005, Warne and his wife Simone Callahan announced that they had decided to separate.

On 7 May 2006, the News of the World tabloid newspaper published pictures of Warne standing in his underpants with a pair of 25-year-old models, as well as explicit text messages allegedly from Warne.[8]

Endorsements and off-field earnings

Warne's off-field indiscretions cost him various corporate endorsements and offers. On 13 July 2005, Australia's Nine Network announced it would not renew Warne's commentating contract, worth around AU$300,000 annually. Warne had previously been seen as a future member of the Nine cricket commentary team, and had done commentary work during his one-year ban from cricket in 2003.

Warne has had much negative media publicity due to his affairs. He has often been the subject of parodies and jokes and has even had a number of songs written about his exploits: Horny Warnie by Horny Warnie and the Whites, which received some airplay in Australia;The Shane Warne Song, by Kevin Bloody Wilson, and Shane Warne (There's a Brand New Aussie Legend), by The Handsome Young Strangers.

He also does promotional work for hair-loss-recovery company Advanced Hair. This matter was investigated by the British Advertising Standards Authority in relation to an illegal celebrity endorsement of medical services.[9]

Warne has also endorsed the Codemaster video games Shane Warne Cricket and Shane Warne Cricket '99. Outside Australia these were known as Brian Lara Cricket and Brian Lara Cricket '99.

Cars

Warne has indulged his passion for cars. He has owned two Ferraris: he purchased a 355 Spider in 1996, and in 2001 he bought a 360 Spider in titanium, with red interior. At that time he had six cars - the Ferrari, two Mercedes four-wheel drives, two BMWs and a Holden VK Commodore. However, after his separation he sold his collection, and now owns a BMW X5 in Australia, and rents a Mercedes E55 AMG in England [10]

Recognition


Test wicket milestones

Books

As author or co-author

File:SW illustrated career.jpg
Shane Warne: My illustrated career Book cover
  • Shane Warne: My Official Illustrated Career by Richie Benaud and Shane Warne (Cassell, 2006) ISBN
  • The Complete Shane Warne by Ken Piesse (Viking, 2001) ISBN
  • Shane Warne : My own story by Shane Warne and Mark Ray (Bookman Projects, 1997) ISBN

Biographies

  • Spun Out: Shane Warne the Unauthorised Biography of a Cricketing Genius by Paul Barry (Bantam Press, 2006) ISBN
  • Shane Warne: My Autobiography (Coronet Books, 2002) ISBN ((Audiobook)Audio Cassette: Hodder & Stoughton Audio Books, 2001 ISBN) (Hardcover: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 2001 ISBN)

Trivia

Poetry about Shane Warne

  • Come Shane By Victoria Coverdale (Make Jam Press, 2006) ISBN

References

  1. ^ Warne predicts return of the real Australia, Alex Brown, The Guardian, 24 August 2005
  2. ^ English, Peter (2006-12-26). "Another first at the last". Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne. Cricinfo. Retrieved 2006-12-26. The fourth over was the one for history and, at 3.18pm, Andrew Strauss became the crucial figure. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help)
  3. ^ Miller, Andrew (2006-12-26). "Warne's 700th rattles England". Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne. Cricinfo. Retrieved 2006-12-26. The delivery that did for Strauss was a classic Warne dismissal, a flighted ball that dipped into the rough, bit and crashed into middle stump as Strauss played loosely for an imagined half-volley. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help)
  4. ^ "ACB Player Conduct Inquiry Report".

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Preceded by Australian One-day International cricket captains
1997/8-1998/9 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World
2005 		Succeeded by

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