To watch the great Shane Warne bowl his mesmerizing leg-spin was pure theatre.
It was poetry in motion to witness the Australia legend come in off his short run before bamboozling batsmen all over the world time and again.
The cricket world is in mourning after Warne died in Thailand at the age of 52.
Not only was he one of the best cricketers of all time, Warne established himself as a sporting icon due to his wizardry with the ball and his infectious personality.
He made a huge impact with his incredible skill, passion for the sport and drive to reach new heights.
There was a swagger about the Victorian, who looked more like a surfer from Bondi Beach than a Test bowler when he emerged on the international stage with bleach-blonde hair and zinc sunscreen smeared on his face.
Warne certainly made waves in a magnificent playing career, with Muttiah Muralitharan the only bowler to have claimed more than his 708 Test scalps from 145 matches.
There were so many highs for the maverick tweaker, a standout being the 'Ball of the Century' to bowl Mike Gatting with a delivery that ripped up from outside leg to strike the off stump in the 1993 Ashes series.
He also claimed an Ashes hat-trick on his home Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1994 and was man of the match when Australia won the 1999 World Cup final against Pakistan after taking 4-33 at Lord's.
Warne loved being on the big stage and he thrived on the pressure, delivering multiple match-winning performances over the years.
There was an aura about him. He was a vibrant personality, a great sport, who knew how to enjoy himself, and far more than just a cricketer.
Off the field, he lived a colourful life and was described as a "rock and roll" cricketer by his commentary colleague Mark Nicholas on Friday.
Warne was stripped of the Australia vice-captaincy in 2000 after a phone-sex scandal involving a British nurse, at a time when he was married.
He was linked with many women, notably coupling up with British actress Liz Hurley to whom he became engaged, although they later split.
Famously, Warne was banned for a year after testing positive for a banned diuretic in February 2003, just prior to Australia beginning their campaign at the Cricket World Cup. He said the pill had been given to him by his mother, flatly denied any intentional wrongdoing, and was soon back to his best once that ban expired.
Warne continued to pass on his wisdom to both young and established players after calling time on his playing career, leaving spinners in particularly transfixed by both his actions and words.
He remained in the game as a coach, mentor and an excellent commentator, bringing an unrivalled energy to his work and play.
It was not only batsmen who had difficulty reading him, as he also experienced success on the poker table.
There was an air of expectation when Warne walked onto the field, entered a room, started a commentary stint or a coaching session.
The many tributes from far and wide for a sporting icon showed the measure of the man who has gone far too soon.
Warne was a superstar, a genius who lived life to the full and is a huge loss.
Late collapse puts India on the back foot against New Zealand
Ravindra Jadeja took a five-for but New Zealand hit back with some late wickets of their own against India on Friday.
India looked in complete control at 78-1 in the penultimate over of the first day of the third Test in Mumbai, having bowled New Zealand out for 235.
Jadeja, who bowled 22 unchanged overs, was in sensational form with the ball, taking 5-65.
Able support arrived from the excellent Washington Sundar, who finished with figures of 4-81. His haul included the wicket of Daryl Mitchell (82), who was the only New Zealand batter to really make a dent.
Rohit Sharma's dismissal for 18 in the seventh over did not derail a positive start to India's chase, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (30) and Shubman Gill (31 not out) looking steady at the crease.
However, Jaiswal was bowled by Ajaz Patel (2-33) in the 18th over, with Mohammed Siraj pinned lbw from the very next ball.
Patel was unable to complete his hat-trick, but Virat Kohli was run out for four in the next over as New Zealand rallied, and the tourists now have plenty of momentum heading into day two.
Data Debrief: Three of a kind
India have won their last three Tests at Wankhede Stadium, including a 372-run win over New Zealand in their last match at the venue (3 December 2021), after not registering a win in three matches prior to that span (D1 L2).
And they looked well placed to push on and continue that run as they looked to avoid slipping to a third defeat of the series.
They last lost three successive Tests on home soil back in the 1970s, when they faced England, but their late capitulation has left them vulnerable to matching that.
South Africa bowlers earn dominant victory over Bangladesh
South Africa wrapped up the second Test against Bangladesh inside three days by hammering their hosts by an innings and 273 runs in Chattogram.
The victory made it a 2-0 clean sweep in the series for the tourists, who had started the third day in a great spot having left Bangladesh 38-4 in their first innings at stumps on Wednesday.
The Proteas tore through the Bangladesh middle order before bowling them all out for 159 in their first innings.
Seamer Kagiso Rabada, on the way to a five-for, got the ball rolling with the dismissal of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (nine) before Mushfiqur Rahim was caught by Tony de Zorzi off Dane Paterson for a duck.
Wickets continued to fall in quick succession, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (one) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (zero) both dismissed by Rabada to leave Bangladesh 48-8. Despite a late rally, they were all out for 159 and South Africa enforced the follow-on to good effect.
Bangladesh made another poor start to their innings, losing Mahmudul Hasan Joy (11), Shadman Islam (six), Zakir Hasan (seven) and Mominul Haque (zero) for just 43 runs, as Keshav Maharaj (5-59) and Senuran Muthusamy leading South Africa's charge to victory.
Data Debrief: Bangladesh's dismal home form rolls on
This defeat was Bangladesh's fifth Test loss in a row at home, which equals their worst run since October 2011 and November 2012.
But the third day of this test was all about South Africa's bowlers, who took 16 wickets in total.
Rabada was first to take a five-for in the first innings, but was later joined by Maharaj. Senuran Muthasamy, meanwhile, took career-best figures of 4-45 in the second innings.
Santner helps end India's 12-year unbeaten home Test series record
New Zealand made history by becoming the first touring side to win a Test series in India since 2012 with a historic 113-run triumph in Pune on Saturday.
Mitchell Santner's figures of 6-104 in the second innings proved decisive, bowling the Blackcaps to an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the series.
New Zealand started the day 198-5 with Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips at the crease, the former adding 11 runs to his overnight total before being bowled out by Ravindra Jadeja.
Phillips (48) remained until the end as the wickets tumbled around him as Santner, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel and Will O'Rourke all failed to reach double figures.
The Blackcaps posted a total of 255, to give India a target of 359 for victory, with the hosts starting well in their run chase through Yashasvi Jaiswal's 77 runs from 66 balls.
But Santner would go on to rip out the top order, claiming the wickets of Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (eight), Shubman Gill (23) and Virat Kohli (17) and Rishabh Pant (zero), the latter coming via a run out.
India were desperate for a batter to steady the ship, but it never came to fruition, as Washington Sundar (21) was bowled out by Phillips, while Sarfaraz Khan (nine) became Santner's latest victim.
The victory was sealed when Jadeja (18) was caught by Daryl Mitchell on the boundary, sparking joyous scenes among the tourists.
Data Debrief: Santner stars in historic win
New Zealand have beaten India on their home turf, marking their first home series loss in 12 years, with the triumph spearheaded by Santner.
Having never taken more than three wickets in an innings or six in a match, Santner ended with match figures of 13 for 157, the third-best by any visiting bowler in India.
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