Although we never played together, I actually met and bowled with the world’s greatest leg spinner Shane Warne at an Australian training session in Antigua, West Indies in 1996.
Warnie came to St Kilda the year after I left the Saints to live in Mulwala at the end of 1983. He was generous with his time and we had a few good chats.
To see him beforehand help Australia win its first ever Test Match in Barbados – the home of the world’s greatest ever cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers – was magical. His duel with Brian Lara was a highlight as Lara subsequently became the new holder of the highest individual Test score of 400 not-out.
To claim 708 Test wickets bowling the most difficult ball in cricket, the leg break, with so many variations and so much control, to bamboozle so many batsmen from all countries and take wickets at a much faster rate than present with spinners, put Warnie in a league of his own. How Australia would love a leg spinner in their side now.
Like so many people throughout the world, I was shocked to hear of Warnie’s death, at age 52. He always had time for people. Not just to say hello and walk on, but to spend a bit of time with you.
He loved people, encouraged people and whilst he was very competitive on the field, made plenty of friends with opposition teams off it. His cricket brain was extraordinary.
Warnie touched people from all walks of life and would engage with anyone from royalty to schoolkids. Condolences are extended to his family.
Robert (Moose) Muir.