Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has paid tribute to Shane Warne in a poignant video message from Pakistan, pointing out that to many in today’s national squad the legendary cricketer was “their all-time favourite player”.
The cricket world was shaken perhaps like it had never been shaken before when news of Warne’s death began filtering through in the early hours of Saturday morning (AEDT).
The news hit shortly after stumps on the opening day of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
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Cummins then addressed the tragedy in an emotional video message from the touring party’s hotel in Islamabad.
“Warney was an all-time great, a once-in-a-century-type cricketer, and his records will live on forever,” Cummins said.
“We all grew up watching Warney, idolising him, we all had posters (of him) on our wall, had his earrings.
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“We love so much about Warney: his showmanship, his charisma, his tactics, the way he just willed himself and the team around him to win games for Australia and, probably above all else, his incredible skill as a leg-spinner.
“There’s so many guys in this team and squad who still hold him as a hero, their all-time favourite player, and the loss we’re all trying to wrap our heads around is huge.”
Warne was found unresponsive in a Thailand villa, having suffered a suspected heart attack.
The greatest leg-spinner in history died less than 24 hours after another great of Australian cricket: Rod Marsh.
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It now feels eerie looking back on a post that Warne wrote in tribute to Marsh, describing the mustachioed wicketkeeper-batter as “a legend of our great game” and “an inspiration to so many young boys and girls”.
“It’s been a really tough couple of days for Australian cricket after the passing of Rod,” Cummins added in his touching video message.
“We just wish the best for both families, especially Shane’s parents and his kids.
“The game was never the same after Warney emerged, and the game will never be the same after his passing.
“Rest in peace, ‘King’.”
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