Yeah his commentary blended in as the years went by but when he analysed spin bowling there was nobody better to listen to. I remember during the 09 Ashes, Oz put a long partnership on at Lords in day 4 and the game went flat for a while. Him and Atherton (I think it was Athers) just talked, mainly about spin bowling tactics. Man I was captivated. I always remember that and have probably mentioned it stacks.
And then he’d do those features at lunch and whatever where he’d help young spinners out.
There was a footballer, Frank Worthington, he’d been player/manager at Tranmere before moving on. The season after he comes on against us as sub and says to one of our players ‘you guys are still in this, come on’. Warne always struck me as that same type of character. Fiercely competitive, wanted to be the best, but a lover of the game and would happily give advice to his opponent before going onto destroy them.
Man I can’t believe this. Feel like crying. As someone who is unashamedly partisan when it comes to sports, he still breaks into my very top tier of favourites.
In presenting him the Oz MOTS in 05, Atherton said something along the lines of, the word great is often overused but here it’s appropriate - ladies and gentlemen, the great Shane Warne.
