He once bamboozled Mike Gatting with a ball that the batsman didn’t see coming. On March 4, he left us in a manner that the world didn’t see coming. That was and always has been this irreverent, unpredictable genius.
He was rated as one of the five greatest cricketers of the century in 2000. But Shane Keith Warne was much more than the most lauded leg spin bowler of all time. He was a showman and a gambler. He courted controversy. His bluff was not always restricted to the poker table, a passion he perfected to an art. And, over the years, from the mischievous chubby youth, had emerged a chiselled blond self-professed ladies man. But anyone who could cut through the theatrics and tantrums discovered an absolute gem of a human being. I was privileged to have had multiple interactions with him on and off the cricket field, over meals and chilled beverages and, most importantly, on the poker table.
The bustling beach-side suburb of St. Kilda is a short tram ride away from Melbourne’s CBD. The quaint and picturesque Junction Oval lies in the heart of the hustle and is where Warney grew up playing club cricket as well as his fair share of Aussie Rules Football. Aptly, it’s also where I first met him, having followed his on field exploits for a decade and a half. The touring Indians were playing a tour opener against Victoria and I was nervously getting set to host my very first televised toss. Moments before I was to walk out with opposing captains M.S. Dhoni and David Hussey, SW came up to me and said “tough job you have maite, but a good spot for your first toss. Best ground in ’Straya. Join me for a VB (the local Victoria Bitter) after.” It turned out to be more than just a few VBs. It was a good old Aussie Barbie with raucous mates and a cacophony of conversation. I was the only one in a jacket and tie among a well tanned group in shorts, sleeveless vests and thongs (flip flops, not underwear!). With Warnie playing host, it felt like being among old friends.
A year later, in 2008, semi retired, he was the unlikely leader of an IPL Franchise. I was on stage with him at the inaugural function for the Rajasthan Royals. Just from his demeanour, you could tell he wasn’t along for the ride, but was there to win. He professed as much over dinner. And win he did with an unheralded bunch bereft of most of the world’s contemporary T20 superstars. His inspirational leadership and ability to reach out to every member of the squad did the trick. Many agree he was the best captain Australia never had.
Five years later we were in his adopted Indian home, Jaipur, for an India-Australia ODI. I thought it made sense to include a sound bite from him in a city feature I was planning. I asked him for two minutes. He gave me six hours. Bumming around his favourite spots in the Pink City. Playing a game of giant chess with ornate elephants. Sampling local cuisine. And insisting that we both wore a traditional Rajasthani turban for a sit down interview!
The author with Warne at the the basement of the Melbourne Cricket Ground where the cricketer was inaugurating his virtual reality experience
Outside Melbourne and Jaipur, he also treated the Rose Bowl in Southampton like home, after all his years at Hampshire. He was fiercely proud of the Shane Warne Stand!
While he fitted in beautifully in his second innings as a commentator and pundit, his most famous spell of commentary has to be on the field of play. During a Big Bash game for the Melbourne Stars, Warne was miked up while bowling, (already a departure from the norm of talking while in the outfield) and he actually told the commentators in the box exactly what ball he would bowl to Brendon McCullum, and true to his word bowled him around his legs with a vicious slider. “That’s why he’s the King” screamed Brendon Julian from upstairs.
But Warnie wasn’t just the King of Cricket. He enjoyed dabbling with Kings, Queens and Jacks and always had an ace up his sleeve. Metaphorically of course!
One memorable evening in Dhaka, Shane, Shoaib Akhtar and I left a jazz bar to head to a rooftop private party. There was great food, drink and a couple of pool tables. But we quickly discovered Warne’s motivation. He had reliably heard they had a poker table going. That night I got my first proper poker lesson. From the master! We left him there to finish his last hand over a hearty breakfast.
Poker was not just a hobby. He played competitively at the highest level, embracing it more as a craft than a gambling addiction. Sure the lure of the lucre couldn’t be ignored but there was something in his nature where he got the greatest satisfaction in outthinking an opponent. Not unlike some of his mind games on the cricket field. Like when he and Ian Healy had an exaggerated chat before the last ball of the day against Pakistan in Sydney. They never discussed tactics or field changes, just the dinner menu for that night. Batsman Basit Ali (who often kept the Aussies waiting) fell for the gamesmanship and lost his leg stump!
Admittedly, Shane Warne wasn’t perfect. He made his share of mistakes. But in his imperfections lay his appeal. In his fallibility lay his charm.
The world is poorer without this eclectic and effervescent entertainer. RIP Mate.
The author is a cricket writer and commentator
Pictures: Getty Images and courtesy the author