Shane Warne dies: Ponting remembers 'the greatest bowler I ever played with or against'

By Sports Desk March 05, 2022

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has joined the tributes to his old team-mate Shane Warne.

Warne, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, died at the age of 52 on Friday.

His passing has left the world of cricket, and sport in general, stunned. 

Masses of tributes have been paid to the former leg-spinner, who took 708 Test wickets for his country, the second-highest total of any bowler.

Ponting, who played alongside Warne for Australia between 1995 and 2007, and was Test captain for three of those years from 2004, has joined those hailing one of the sport's greats.

"Hard to put this into words. I first met him when I was 15 at the Academy. He gave me my nickname [Punter]," Ponting posted on his official Twitter account.

"We were teammates for more than a decade, riding all the highs and lows together.

"Through it all he was someone you could always count on, someone who loved his family, someone who would be there for you when you needed him and always put his mates first.

"The greatest bowler I ever played with or against. RIP King. My thoughts are with Keith, Bridgette, Jason, Brooke, Jackson and Summer."

Another of Warne's former Australia team-mates, Matthew Hayden, tweeted: "RIP Warnie. God only made one model of you my friend."

Justin Langer also played alongside Warne, and Fox Sports reported the ex-Australia coach as having said: "[Warne was] intensely loyal to his mates, controversial — he said it as he saw it. Incredibly generous, and, you know, he was a very kind and generous person but intensely loyal.

"Recently, the way he stood up for me in the last few months, I mean, that was Shane Warne, he looked after his mates.

"I've said this a thousand times… the best thing I did in cricket was play with Shane Warne."

Current Australia one-day captain Aaron Finch tweeted: "[Heartbroken] and shocked… absolutely shattered that we have lost one of the great sportsman and friends! The impact you had runs a lot deeper than cricket. You will be forever missed King!"

Related items

  • Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock

    Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.

    The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.

    After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.

    Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*). 

    "It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.

    "When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"

    Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.

    "Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."

    During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.

    Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.

    "I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.

    "The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.

    "It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."

  • Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series

    Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.

    Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.

    The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.

    However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.

    Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.

    Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.

    However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.

    Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century

    England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.

    Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.

    Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.

  • Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies

    Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.

    The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.

    Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.

    Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.

    However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.

    Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.

    Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.

    Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists

    West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.

    Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.

    However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.