Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting says he wishes he could’ve told Shane Warne just how much he loved him, while urging the cricket world to carry on the spin legend’s legacy.
Warne’s life was cut short at just 52 years of age when he was found unresponsive in his Koh Samui villa over the weekend.
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Tributes have since poured in across the world from celebrities like Mick Jagger and Ed Sheeran to former and current cricket stars including Ponting who were all close with Warne.
Ponting, who spent much of his playing career alongside Warne, said the tributes to the champion spinner over the past few days have been hard to watch.
“I’ve had the television on this morning watching a lot of the tributes to him, but any time I hear his voice, I have to turn it off,” said Ponting as he fought back tears when speaking on an ICC podcast.
Asked if there was something he could say to him right now, Ponting replied: “As I’ve said to a lot of the guys I’ve been talking to over the last couple of days, just how much I love him.”
“I didn’t say that, but I wish I did.”
The former Australian skipper said it’s his responsibility, as well as current and former players to continue on Warne’s legacy.
“It’s up to us now that are here, who have that great passion about the game and can talk about the up, it’s up to us to carry on Shane’s legacy that he left,” Ponting said.
“I’ve known him for a long time and understood him pretty well, It’s up to me now whenever I get an opportunity to let the world know what he was all about and what he was like.
“Hopefully pass on to people his knowledge and some of the things I learned from him as well.”
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