End of an Era
As Shane Warne walked off the MCG today, for the last time, it was an extremely emotional moment for cricket lovers all over the world. Michael Slater had a lump in his throat in the commentary box and so did thousands of fans at the MCG. Warne himself did a great job of not letting his emotions overwhelm him, for it was his last ever appearance in front of his beloved Melbourne crowd. He raised his hat to his home crowd who gave him a thoroughly deserved standing ovation.
Great players come and great players go, but there are very few who actually transcend boundaries and touch the hearts of cricket lovers. To me, Warne is one such player. I have no doubt that the ovation would have been the same even if his last test match was in some other country. Such is the contribution of the man to world cricket and such is his stature. He has not been an ideal role model off the field, but on the field, Warne was as close to God as it gets.
With Warne, it wasn't just his ability to turn the ball, or his wicket taking prowess. It was an overall package. He brought with him an aura that was respected and feared by opposing teams. He has alays had supreme confidence in his own abilities and I daresay he does not have a negative bone in his body. It's an amazing ability to be thinking of victory all the time, against all odds. Even at the start of the Ashes series, I am pretty sure Warne was thinking of winning the series first and then about his 700 wickets. That's the way he has always played - team and country before personal achievements.
Warne is the sort of bowler who always wants the ball when the game is on the line, always willing to cross the barriers of pain and exhaustion when his team and his country need him. As he won the Man of the Match award in his last test at the MCG, Warne said that the Australian team played to entertain the cricket watching public. He has been an embodiment of this approach, almost like the Pied Piper, charming cricket viewers the world over. I don't think any bowler has ever created magic with the ball the way Shane Warne has done time and again, against every opponent, at every cricket ground in the world. I don't think any captain would have ever had such a magician at his disposal ever in the history of the game - one he could count upon when it came to a life or death situation.
At the end of next week, when Shane Warne walks off a cricket field for the last time, Test Cricket would have become poorer at the end of an era. An era of magic, an era of god-given talent, an era of a dazzling variety of weapons, an era of one of the most positive players to have ever played cricket, an era of a great great man called Shane Warne. I must confess that I was emotional when Warnie walked off the MCG for the last time. Sachin Tendulkar is perhaps the only other player who would induce that emotion in me when he retires. I have had a lot of favourite players since I started watching and understanding cricket, but I must admit, I have never felt this way ever before. It is almost a sense of personal loss for me.
I remember when Warne had a major shoulder injury in the late 1990's and it was feared that he might never bowl again. I remember going to a temple and praying that Warne recovers and gets back to his best again. My prayers were answered then. If I could get one more wish today, I'd ask that Warne should continue playing forever.
I know that cannot happen. I at least hope Warne leaves the field for the last time on the winning side. Warne has always been a champion, a winner, and that's the most befitting farewell his team can give him. Goodbye Warnie, and thank you for all the entertainment you have provided over the years. Murali may get a 1000 test wickets, but to me, you will always be the greatest ever. I have no doubts about that.
Great players come and great players go, but there are very few who actually transcend boundaries and touch the hearts of cricket lovers. To me, Warne is one such player. I have no doubt that the ovation would have been the same even if his last test match was in some other country. Such is the contribution of the man to world cricket and such is his stature. He has not been an ideal role model off the field, but on the field, Warne was as close to God as it gets.
With Warne, it wasn't just his ability to turn the ball, or his wicket taking prowess. It was an overall package. He brought with him an aura that was respected and feared by opposing teams. He has alays had supreme confidence in his own abilities and I daresay he does not have a negative bone in his body. It's an amazing ability to be thinking of victory all the time, against all odds. Even at the start of the Ashes series, I am pretty sure Warne was thinking of winning the series first and then about his 700 wickets. That's the way he has always played - team and country before personal achievements.
Warne is the sort of bowler who always wants the ball when the game is on the line, always willing to cross the barriers of pain and exhaustion when his team and his country need him. As he won the Man of the Match award in his last test at the MCG, Warne said that the Australian team played to entertain the cricket watching public. He has been an embodiment of this approach, almost like the Pied Piper, charming cricket viewers the world over. I don't think any bowler has ever created magic with the ball the way Shane Warne has done time and again, against every opponent, at every cricket ground in the world. I don't think any captain would have ever had such a magician at his disposal ever in the history of the game - one he could count upon when it came to a life or death situation.
At the end of next week, when Shane Warne walks off a cricket field for the last time, Test Cricket would have become poorer at the end of an era. An era of magic, an era of god-given talent, an era of a dazzling variety of weapons, an era of one of the most positive players to have ever played cricket, an era of a great great man called Shane Warne. I must confess that I was emotional when Warnie walked off the MCG for the last time. Sachin Tendulkar is perhaps the only other player who would induce that emotion in me when he retires. I have had a lot of favourite players since I started watching and understanding cricket, but I must admit, I have never felt this way ever before. It is almost a sense of personal loss for me.
I remember when Warne had a major shoulder injury in the late 1990's and it was feared that he might never bowl again. I remember going to a temple and praying that Warne recovers and gets back to his best again. My prayers were answered then. If I could get one more wish today, I'd ask that Warne should continue playing forever.
I know that cannot happen. I at least hope Warne leaves the field for the last time on the winning side. Warne has always been a champion, a winner, and that's the most befitting farewell his team can give him. Goodbye Warnie, and thank you for all the entertainment you have provided over the years. Murali may get a 1000 test wickets, but to me, you will always be the greatest ever. I have no doubts about that.
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