Described as an Australian icon and cricketing legend, Shane Warne also had a magical way of making those around him feel seen and loved.
We asked you, our readers, to share your memories of the king of spin.
Here's the touching tributes you had to share about Warnie:
'Incognito' in a West Indies bar
"In 1994, I travelled to the West Indies with some mates to follow the Australia vs West Indies Cricket Tour. I was in my early 20s and looking for adventure.
It was at a time when there were far fewer regulations and Jamaica was very relaxed, so we ended up hanging out with the Aussie team at the hotel and in the bar after playing most days.
Warnie was also in his 20s and at his larrikin and mischievous and cheeky peak. Such fond memories of a night where he and Ian Healy had turned their team jackets inside out as they wanted to go 'incognito', which of course was impossible.
True legend and true larrikin. Taken far too young. RIP mate."
Tammy from VIC
The famous Strauss ball
"I was at the 2005 Test match at Edgbaston and, for a long part of day one, Australia was struggling with the bat.
Being in the crowd, proudly with my Aussie jersey on, it was tough.
Pints of beer being poured on our heads from the English fans above, continually being bashed verbally and the constant songs of the Barmy Army. A nightmare. We wondered how it was going to end.
And then it happened.
The English were silenced by Warnie's forever famous Strauss ball. Wow, it was the best feeling to see our magician work his magic.
We left the ground on such a high and so proud to be Aussies and have the class of this man on our side. Never forgotten. RIP Warnie."
Michelle from NSW
A legend worthy of the Greek gods
"I presented a paper comparing Shane Warne to Achilles at an International Classical Association Symposium in Wellington, New Zealand.
The paper was well received and subsequently was published in the Australian Folklore Journal."
Sergio from ACT
Putting a smile on kids (and adults)
"My daughter, Lily, was in Monash Children's Hospital when Shane Warne, Michael Clarke, Lydia Schiavello and the puppets from Camp Quality visited her room.
They did some colouring and Play-Doh with her. Lily featured in the banner photo on the Shane Warne Foundation website.
It was a truly memorable visit for me, as I am a crazy cricket fan."
Rachelle from VIC
'Taught me how to bowl'
"I still remember the day he came to my high school and taught me [and a few others] how to bowl his way.
I nearly tore my shoulder out of its socket the first time I tried. But I took a lot of wickets after that day. He was a great teacher and just a nice guy."
Theresa from QLD
Leg spin the only way
"I still recall the flipper he bowled to Richie Richardson on the Boxing Day test in 1992. It was the first moment I thought, 'Wow, this bloke is good.' His figures of 7-52 won Australia the game.
Then, in June 1993, he goes on to bowl the ball of the century. I was a 14-year-old cricket fanatic who did what many others my age did, took up leg spin bowling.
I have been a devotee ever since."
Ross from WA
'He stayed and signed every autograph'
"When I worked with Cricket Victoria, we ran a special Junior Bushranger event at the MCG. We planned for 300-odd children to play some games and chat with the Victorian squad, followed by an autograph session.
Warnie was going to be there. We think double the numbers showed up.
The players fulfilled their time obligation then left — except Warnie, who stayed and signed every autograph requested and chatted to all the kids as he signed.
It was dark when he finished and the MCG staff were trying to get us to leave but he loved it and so did the fans."
Jon from VIC
After 10 years, he still remembered me
"I'm from Karachi, Pakistan, and moved to Australia in 2000. I met Warnie after the game on the last day of the test match, October 2, 1994, at National Stadium Karachi. He was nice and very down to earth.
I asked him a lot of questions on cricket … [and] asked if he would mind showing me how he grips the ball. Not only did he show me how he gripped the ball for different deliveries, but he also treated me as if I were an international bowler and played for Pakistan.
I moved to Australia in June 2000. In 2006, one day at work, I heard Warnie was at Westfield on Pitt Street to launch his book and I got the chance to meet him again.
When he saw me, guess what he said? 'Young fella from Karachi 1994, you have grown up a lot.'
Could you believe it? I met him after 10 years had passed, he still remembered me and I was not an international cricketer or a celebrity. That's what Shane Keith Warne was.
RIP Legend. Love ya Mate. See You Soon."
Farhan from AC
'Made me want to become an Australian'
"Shane Warne made me want to move from Zimbabwe to Australia and become Australian, such was the way he intoxicated you with his mercurial methods and larrikin spirit.
As a student in Perth, I once stumbled across a book-signing on Hay Street Mall in the late 1990s, where I got Mark Waugh to sign his book for my father. I left the store and promptly bumped into Warnie a few minutes later.
I asked him for an autograph in the back of Waugh's book. He smiled, signed it, and as he passed the book back, he asked, 'Have you bought mine?'. I will now."
Michael from WA
'As friendly as any bloke'
"I was a radio technician at the 1996 Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval. During the last thrilling session of the game, my work was done and so was Shane's. We spent the two hours on the camera platform watching the game and gas-bagging about anything and everything.
I have worked in a technical capacity at major sporting events and noticed that many current and ex-cricketers won't talk to you unless you are famous. Not so Shane, he was as friendly as any bloke I've ever met, and I will always have a good word for him and fondly remember that time."
Derek from QLD
'Treat the cleaner with the same respect you would a CEO'
There's a saying, 'treat the cleaner with the same respect you would a CEO'. When I hear this quote, it reminds me of Shane Warne.
It was 2005, I was a young Crown Casino host in Melbourne. It was the first day of the Aussie Millions Poker Championship and there were stars aplenty filling the buzzing poker room with lights, cameras and action.
There was Shane Warne. He was tall. Very tall. And he wore a glowing smile.
During the tournament intermission, I noticed he subtly managed to dodge the cameras and paparazzi attempting to take his picture as he casually walked into the employee break room area of the casino. A break room full of noisy Crown employees suddenly became quiet as a legend entered the room.
Surprisingly, he made eye contact with me.
'Hi Shane,' I said as I welcomed him into our group. He sat down next to me and said hello and politely greeted all of us.
Shane Warne, a legend, could have sat at a table with anyone. Rubbed shoulders with A-listers. But no, the humble Australian, sat with the 'nobodies' and made us all feel like we were 'somebodies'.
This, to me, spoke volumes about the kind of person he was. He had a special way of making everyone feel comfortable and important. He told us jokes and laughed with us.
Shane Warne, one of the most famous names in sporting history, never became arrogant for his fame. It never inflated his head. I think his heart just grew bigger for people.
It didn't matter who you were, famous or not famous, he was full of humility and decent to everyone, from the cleaner to the CEO, who crossed paths with him.
My friends and I were honoured that Shane Warne sat at our table that day. A man of wise fortitude. A great soul lost. May he be resting at peace."
Nadia from VIC
Impressions from the boundary
"At a domestic one-day match, Warnie was playing for Victoria at the WACA ground. He was returning from injury before playing for Australia.
He was fielding on the boundary quite a bit and we were hanging over the fence sledging him non-stop. He gave it right back.
At the end of the match — WA batted in the second innings — we pleaded with him to get us a ball from the match, and he actually tried to convince the umpire for it. He pointed us out to the umpire, tried to take the ball from the little box and all, and when he couldn't get us the ball gave a shrug of 'I tried'.
Even after receiving insults and sledges the whole game, he still tried to do something nice. It was my only interaction with him. Made me appreciate him a whole heap more."
Darren from WA
'You're taking all their best sheilas'
"I was at the Lords Ashes Test in 2013 when Warnie was being inducted into the Hall of Fame. He walked around the ground with Liz Hurley on his arm, and I [walked] past close by at the same time as an older Aussie fan [I'm a Pom, who now lives in Perth].
The Aussie looked at Shane and Liz and said loudly, 'Bugger me. You've taken all their bloody wickets and now you're taking all their best sheilas.'
Both Shane and Liz heard him and smiled."
Mark from WA
'Besotted with the Warne brand'
"I grew up loving the game of cricket, or so I thought until Shane Warne came along.
From the ball of the century, he delivered in England in 1993, until his last Test in 2005, I was besotted with the Warne brand of the game.
Weekends that were meant to represent time I spent working around the home quickly turned into binge-watching Shane mesmerise his batting foe. I couldn't take my eyes off it.
Off the field, he was not perfect, but who of us are? And that's what I loved about him, he was Shane Warne, take him or leave him. I'm so very glad I chose the former. Thanks Shane, I'll remember you always."
Stuart from NSW
