Former Australia spinner Shane Warne has passed away of a suspected heart attack in Thailand on Friday.
Australia's Fox Sports, quoting the cricketer's management agency, said that the 52-year-old died on Thailand's Koh Samui island, earlier today.
"Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived," the statement read.
"The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course," it added.
Warne, also lovingly called 'Warnie' by his fans, teammates and the cricketing fraternity all over the world, represented Australia in 145 Tests between 1992 and 2007, claiming 708 Test wickets at an average of 25.41. He was the first cricketer to reach 700 Test scalps and incidentally is still the only Test player, to date, to have scored more runs without making a century.
He also played in 194 ODIs, claiming 293 wickets at an average of 25.73 and was part of the Australia side that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1999 at Lord’s against Pakistan alongside fellow Hall of Famers Glenn McGrath and Steve Waugh. His performance at the match saw him named Player of the Final after he concluded the game with match figures of 9-1-33-4.
Operation shred has started (10 days in) & the goal by July is to get back to this shape from a few years ago ! Let’s go 💪🏻👏🏻 #heathy #fitness #feelgoodfriday pic.twitter.com/EokgT2Hyhz
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 28, 2022
As a skipper, Warne had also led Rajasthan Royals to victory in the inaugural 2008 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL)
Only this morning, Australia had lost another sporting legend in former Test and ODI wicketkeeper-batter Rod Marsh. Marsh, 74, had suffered a heart attack in Queensland last week and died in an Adelaide hospital on Friday morning.
"Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has passed. He was a legend of our great game & an inspiration to so many young boys & girls. Rod cared deeply about cricket & gave so much-especially to Australia & England players. Sending lots & lots of love to Ros & the family. RIP mate," Warne had tweeted earlier today which has now become the last post from his Twitter handle.
As the news of Australian cricketer's death went viral on Friday evening, social media has been flooded with tributes from fans and fellow cricketers.
"Unbelievable. I am shocked to the core. This can't be true… Rest In Peace, Shane Warne. There are no words to describe what I feel right now. A huge loss for cricket," tweeted West Indies legend Vivian Richards.
💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) March 4, 2022
"I'm truly lost for words here, this is extremely sad. An absolute legend and champion of our game has left us. RIP Shane Warne….still can’t believe it," tweeted Indian skipper Rohit Sharma.
"Shocked beyond words. A legend of our game, an icon, and someone who revolutionised spin bowling. RIP Shane Warne," said Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Life is so fickle and unpredictable. I cannot process the passing of this great of our sport and also a person I got to know off the field. RIP #goat. Greatest to turn the cricket ball. pic.twitter.com/YtOkiBM53q
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 4, 2022
"More Test wickets at The Oval (32) than any other non-English bowler. A legend of the game. RIP Shane Warne," tweeted English county outfit Surrey Cricket.
"Shane Warne was one of only two men to take over 1,000 international wickets. He was man-of-the-match at Lord's during Australia's 1999 Men's Cricket World Cup final victory and won every Test he played in at this Ground. He will be remembered as one of the greats of our game," said Lord's Cricket Ground Twitter handle.
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