Great Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne passed away on this day last year following a suspected cardiac arrest. The spin maestro breathed his last at the age of 52 which left the sporting world benumbed with shock and grief.
The legendary spinner took 708 Test and 293 ODI wickets during his illustrious 15-year long international career. The legendary leg-spinner shattered several records in the process. Warne’s impact on cricket was huge and that is likely to stand the test of time.
Ball of the century
Warne produced a moment of magic at Old Trafford to dismiss England batsman Mike Gatting during the Ashes series 1993. The ball is fabled as the ‘ball of the century’. Warne pitched the ball outside the leg stump. It spun back past Gatting’s guard and sent the bails flying. The former England captain and the whole world only watched the magic moment with sheer disbelief. The mystery ball just castled Gatting around his legs, leaving him dazed and bemused.
The magic ball went a long way in shaping the legacy of Warne. The promising spinner never looked back after that wonder and the rest is what they call history. After that magic moment, the spin wonder went by the nickname of ‘Spin King’. That delivery has since been the stuff of cricketing folklore.