Cricket legend Shane Warne died within hours of paying tribute to another legend of the sport and within days of declaring that he was planning to get back to peak physical fitness.
Warne, regarded by many to be the greatest bowler of all time, died on Friday at the age of 52, his management company confirmed. His death was due to a suspected heart attack after he was found unresponsive at his home in Thailand.
Tragically, just a few hours before his death, he posted a tribute on social media to one of his cricketing heroes Rod Marsh, who died earlier on Friday.
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Marsh played for Australia throughout the 1970s and 1980s and was later director of the England and Wales Cricket Board. He was a childhood icon of Warne's, who posted on Twitter: “Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has passed. He was a legend of our great game and an inspiration to so many young boys and girls.
“Rod cared deeply about cricket and gave so much - especially to Australia and England players. Sending lots and lots of love to Ros and the family. RIP mate.”
Just a few hours later, Warne had also died.
Earlier this week Warne wrote of his intention to get back into shape by the summer, posting a picture of himself from a few years previously. He posted on Twitter on Monday: “Operation shred has started (10 days in) and the goal by July is to get back to this shape from a few years ago! Let’s go.”
This is the tweet that Warne posted on Monday
Warne is recognised as the best leg-spin bowler in the history of cricket, and one of the best bowlers of any style to have ever played the game. He racked up 708 Test match wickets in 145 tests for Australia, the second highest amount of all time.
He also took 293 one-day international wickets, taking his total tally for his country to 1,001 wickets.
He is also credited with being one of cricket’s most alluring superstars, thanks in part to his flamboyant style on and off the cricket pitch, something which was evident with his very first delivery in Ashes cricket.
Bowling against England batting great Mike Gatting, Warne, largely unknown in the UK at the time, delivered what is now known as ‘the ball of the century’, bowling Gatting out before the batsman could comprehend what had happened.
The 'ball of the century' can be seen below
Tributes to Warne have already been pouring in from all over the world.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis said: “I’m shocked and shattered. Simply can’t believe I’m hearing this. Very, very sad day for our cricket community. The biggest superstar of my generation gone. Goodbye legend. Condolences to the family and friends.”
West Indies star Carlos Brathwaite said: “Sometimes it’s difficult to remember people who you idolize are human. It’s impossible to think they’ll leave us. Such a young age with so much more to give to our game. This is a big loss to the cricketing world. RIP Shane Warne.”
It hasn’t just been cricketers paying tribute to Warne, with ex footballer and TV presenter Gary Lineker posting on social media: “Terribly saddened and shocked to hear the news that Shane Warne has died. The greatest spin bowler of all time. Can’t quite believe it. RIP Shane.”
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