Spinning to conclusion

My first blog post after a long time and it’s something completely different…
The end of an era Shane Keith Warne, the greatest spin bowler of all time, has retired from all forms of international cricket. The last act of this great showman was to almost single handedly complete a 5-0 whitewash of the English cricket team to return the Ashes to Australia.

His life and career have had as many twists and turns as the cricket ball in his hands. From a young blonde spin bowler taken apart by the Indians against an Alan Border led team to the greatest spin bowler and showman of all time. A man larger than life who breathed a new life into cricket, the man who made spin sexy at a time when fast bowling was prime. A legend both on and off the field who made headlines with not only his talent but his off field antics from being fined for match fixing to being banned for diuretics (even though it was on his Mom’s advice), lewd text messages and baked beans!

Admittedly, he has had the privelage of being in a star studded team which has held the top mantle for years and he has been fortunate enough to have been led by some of the most astute cricketing minds; Alan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh to Ricky Ponting. Rather than use this an excuse, it only uncovers more of his magic – for lack of a better word, that he even dominated in an Australian team so full of world beaters.

As he himself said ‘ He has achieved everything he wanted and Cricket Australia has every single trophy in the cricketing world in it’s cabinet’ … in no small part to Shane Warne. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit sad that this master conjurer, the ‘sultan of spin’ will no longer be walking in to bowl making all around wonder what magic will emanate from his fingers.

Shane Keith Warne - Fair Dinkum Aussie Bloke and Champion Cricketer, You will be missed by teammates, opposition and fans alike. Cricket is that much poorer to no longer have you in it’s ranks but that much more richer for the part you played in its history!