Former
Australia pacer Glenn McGrath on Saturday paid homage to Shane Warne, who
passed away due to a suspected heart attack on an island in Thailand at the age
of 52. McGrath said he is devastated to hear the news of his demise. “Warnie
was larger than life. I thought nothing could ever happen to him,” said
McGrath, who played with Warne throughout his career.
Also Read: Shane Warne’s family offered state funeral as Australia wakes up to sad news
“Just
absolutely devastated today. Warnie was larger than life. I thought nothing
could ever happen to him. He lived more in his life than most people would live
in 20. He was the ultimate competitor. He thought the game was never lost, that
he could turn it around & bring us to victory, which he did so many
times,” wrote McGrath on Instagram.
Also Read: Shane Warne dies at 52, tributes pour in
“I
think he lived his life the same way. There seemed to be never a dull moment.
He was a great mate & a loving father. He loved his kids so much & my
thoughts are with Brooke, Jackson & Summer. My thoughts are also with
Keith, Bridgette & Jason. Rest In Peace my good mate, there’ll never again
be anyone like you,” he added.
McGrath
and Warne said goodbye to Test cricket after the fifth Ashes Test in 2007. The
duo is recognised as one of the most lethal bowling combinations to ever play
together in the history of the sport.
Also Read: Shane Warne death leaves Sachin Tendulkar ‘shocked, stunned & miserable’
Warne
was one of the most influential cricketers in history. He almost
single-handedly revived the art of leg-spin when he burst onto the
international scene in the early 1990s, and by the time he retired from
international cricket in 2007, he had become the first bowler to reach 700 Test
wickets.
A
key member of Steve Waugh’s 1999 World Cup-winning team, Warne was the player
of the match in both the semi-final and the final. Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack
recognised Shane’s achievements by naming him as one of its Five Cricketers of
the Twentieth Century.
Also Read: Tendulkar vs McGrath: The only bowler who could tame the ‘God of Cricket’
Warne
finished his international career with 708 Test wickets and a further 293 in
One-Day Internationals, placing him second in the list of all-time
international wicket-takers behind his great friend and rival Muttiah
Muralitharan of Sri Lanka (1,347). Shane also captained Australia in 11 One-Day
Internationals, winning 10 and losing just once.
