Shane Warne the Legend – His Greatest Moments
Cricket fans and cricket betting fans all across the world were in shock as it was announced that the Australian cricket legend, Shane Warne, has passed away at 52 years old. He was larger than life, big, bright and unapologetically bold. He changed the shape of Australian cricket and his name will forever be etched in the cricket history books. Today we pay tribute and look at the greatest moments in his 22-year career:
BOWLING OVER ENGLAND AT BRISBANE
Mike Atherton led his team over to Brisbane for the 1993/94 Ashes – feeling pretty confident that they were in with a good chance of bringing it home. They had enjoyed an undefeated summer back at home and they believed that they could finally bring the Ashes back home for the first time since 1986/87.
That confidence didn’t last long though, just five days to be precise…. This was all it took for the best bowler in the world to display his most impressive-ever spell as he stunned the opposition with match figures of 11-110.
This was his second-innings display – and one that will be forever etched in cricket betting fans’ memories. He blew away the tourists by registering eight for 71, which was his best single-innings bowling performance in Test cricket until then.
THE 1999 WORLD CUP
Warne’s performance for his home team in the 1999 World Cup in England was like nothing seen before. He managed to pull this out of the bag when it was needed the most – against South Africa at Edgbaston when their backs were firmly to the wall.
It looked as though Steve Waugh’s squad was on the way out, having been bowled out for just 213 in their first allocated 50 overs, while the South Africans raced to 48 without a loss from 12 overs. But along came Shane Warne…
Shane Warne went on to literally rip the core out of South Africa’s batsmen, with a magical spell of four for 29 in his 10 overs. Such a display left Cronje’s men in such utter bewilderment that they couldn’t even score the one single run needed to victory. This saw them handing over the place in the finals to the Australians – and Warne being awarded the Man of the Match
In the final, they faced their old foes, Pakistan, at Lords. Again, Warne took centre stage and delivered yet another Man of the Match performance. His delivery of four for 33 saw Australia ease to a fairly comfortable eight-wicket win off just 20.1 overs.
HITTING THE TREBLE
Some of Warne’s best moments have been in his home in Oz – and this was the case when the legendary leg-spinner managed his one and only Test hat-trick against England in Melbourne in 1994/95 Ashes series Boxing Day Test.
Warne, who had already made a strong input with his batting skills went on to bowl out the away team for 212 in their first innings. He then put it to bed when he dismissed Darren Gough, Phil DeFreitas and Devon Malcolm with successive balls – as the home crowd went crazy.
Yet again, people were watching a man that seemed to be writing his own cricketing story.
HIS ASHES SWANSONG
Warne made his final Ashes appearance in England in 2005 – and he produced his most impressive display ever in what is now known as the best ever Test series. He ended the series having built up an incredible 249-run tally – including an outstanding knock of 90 in the Third Test. This made him even more successful with a bat than his teammates Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn and Simon Katich.
He also led the bowling aggregates as well, with 40 wickets to his name, the most he had ever managed in an Ashes series. Despite this, the team still went on to lose the series 2-1, but not through the lack of Shane Warne skills.
THE BALL OF THE CENTURY
We first saw Shane Warne bowl in the Ashes back in 1993, when his side was in a difficult position against Graham Gooch’s England team at the Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old Warne was unknown and the home side knew nothing about him – just the shock of peroxide blonde hair catching the opposition’s eye. However, they would definitely know his name afterwards.
Facing him was the world-renowned Mike Gatting. The leg-spinner landed the first ball outside Gatting’s leg stump, and ripped past his defence, knocking the top off. Gatting was left speechless and had no clue as to what had just happened. He remained where he was, thinking that the Aussie wicketkeeper had dislodged it himself. But he was sent packing in complete disbelief.
Shane Warne entered the cricket world to become a legend – and did so from his very first match. Cricket bettors around the world have been blessed with some of the best performances ever courtesy of Warne – and his legend will never die.