‘Shock and Disbelief’ Grip Cricket Fraternity as Australian Legend Passes Away of Heart Attack at 52
Australian cricket legend and the greatest leg-spinner of all-time, Shane Warne, has died, aged 52. Warne’s management released a brief statement stating that passed on the popular tourist island of Koh Samui, Thailand of a suspected heart attack. “Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived,” the statement reads. The family has requested privacy.
Warne was one of cricket’s most lethal bowlers, with 708 Test wickets to his name — the most ever for an Australian, and the second-most of all time behind only Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka. He was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World on three separate occasions, and one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century. As a legacy, Warne’s is unrivaled — the sport’s greatest ever leg-spinner.
Perhaps his greatest moment came in the 1993 Ashes series against England when he delivered ‘the ball of the century’ to completely bamboozle Mike Gatting.
Warne’s death is the second devastating blow for Australian cricket within 24 hours. Cricket great Rod Marsh also died on Friday, having suffered a major heart attack last week.