Shane Warne Tribute

The ball is tossed from right hand to left by a flick of the wrist as he waits to start his run up. The eyes focused, the mind thinking faster than most. You knowa plan is in progress. He begins his walk to the crease in his patented style and the ball is released with a grunt.

Twenty-two yards away a confused batsman is standing nervously not knowing what to expect. But then again who could? It might be a zooter, the wrong’un, a slider, a drifter, a classic leggie or my personal favorite, the flipper.

The ball pitches and does exactly what he wants it to. The result was either the sound of timber or a catch. The legend had just pulled of another one. Shane Warne will be remembered for a number of things, but he will be remembered most for being the greatest.

Warne has always been my favorite cricketer, more than even Sachin Tendulkar. No bowler has captured the imagination of the cricketing world more than him. His presence on the field and his ability to do things with a cricket ball are stunning. Just watch this video and you’ll know what I mean.

The thing that makes Warne exciting to watch is that anything can happen when he was bowling. The match could be completely one sided and then after two Warne overs the momentum is with his team. Just ask the South Africans. With the Proteas cruising in the 1999 World Cup Semi Final Warne came on and took 3 wickets in 8 balls without conceding a run. The game changed.

He's like a magician, constantly plotting, as my dad says, he's “in the game” more than any player out there. Have you ever seen his reaction after he has been hit for six? You can tell he's already planning the next ball. Nothing stirs him.

I only wish he had been captain of Australia. Watching him lead a team is like watching Sir Alex Ferguson on the sidelines. He has the control, confidence and faith among the fans that the genius will get it done. He motivates, grooms and brings out the best in even the less talented players.

Expected to be the worst team in the first season of the IPL, his Rajasthan Royals went on to win the tournament. I remember reading an article about how he was teaching young unknown Indian bowlers how to “construct” an over. My guess is not many bowlers have ever even thought of the concept that an over must be constructed.

As arrogant as any Australian cricketer, Warne still had the humility to admit that he had nightmares of Sachin coming down the pitch and hitting him for a six. Yet his competitive spirit and self-awareness of his ability never shook him from taking on the challenge of bowling to anyone.

Almost all legends in sport never know when to call it a day. No one nailed it like Warne. His retirement from one-day cricket came in 2003 so that he could prolong his test career where he played right up to 2007. Retiring from IPL this year also seems like a well-timed decision.

Cricket will miss Shane Warne. Love him or hate him you cant deny, he was the greatest.

This blog was first published at www.gqindia.com