Who was Shane Warne?
Shane Warne was an Australian leg-spin bowler widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers ever. He took 708 Test wickets, the second-highest tally in history, before his death in 2022.
Warne was born in Melbourne in 1969 and made his Test debut in 1992. He revived the art of leg-spin bowling, which had become rare in international cricket.
In 1993, his first ball in an Ashes Test, to England's Mike Gatting, spun sharply to hit the stumps. It became known as the Ball of the Century.
A champion career
Warne played 145 Tests and took 708 wickets. He also played in Australia's 1999 World Cup winning team and was named Player of the Match in the final.
He took his 700th Test wicket on Boxing Day at the MCG in 2006, in front of his home crowd. His career included controversies off the field, but his skill and showmanship made him hugely popular.
Warne died of a suspected heart attack in Thailand in March 2022, aged 52. A state memorial service was held at the MCG, where a stand was renamed the Shane Warne Stand in his honor.
Did You Know?
Warne was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century in 2000.