Australia’s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins gave an heartfelt tribute to the late spinner, Shane Warne. In a video posted by cricket.com.au, Pat Cummins read out an emotional poem that saluted Warne’s extraordinary career, his inimitable character, and his indelible mark on the cricketing world.
Shane Warne’s Birth Anniversary
Cricket legend Shane Warne died due to sudden of a heart attack on 4 March 2022 while on holiday in Thailand; he was only 52 years of age. The cricketing fraternity was shocked to hear about the demise of this iconic figure, and messages coming from all over the world expressed their grief. A state memorial service was held at the MCG on 30 March; reportedly, more than a million Australians attended it.
The Flipper™️
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 13, 2024
Happy birthday King 👑 pic.twitter.com/0uV36fduTa
Pat Cummins had celebrated the exceptional bowling prowess of Warne and his knack to outsmart batsmen with a diverse range of deliveries in his tribute. Also, he was disappointed that he did not see Warne as full-time captain for Australia.
Happy birthday, Warnie.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 13, 2024
A poetic tribute to the life and magic of Shane Keith Warne, as read by Australia Test captain Pat Cummins ⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/PNqgIrgU7f
Pat Cummins Gets Emotional
“For where to start with Shane Keith Warne, the other worldly gift. We could talk about the wicked spin, the endless flight, the drift. We could talk about the wickets, the bluster, the guile. We could talk about the character, the look, the hair, the smile. We could talk about the charisma. We could talk about the drama, the travail, and the strife. We could talk about the slider, the legbreak, and the flipper. We could contemplate a world in which he was a full-time Aussie skipper.”
“The wickets we can tally up but the emotions we can’t measure up, the feelings, the feelings he stirred in us, the simple sense of pleasure. A chubby blonde in cricket whites, he took up the ball in 12 and in 15 years, he cast his spell on the cricket world. He was just a bloke, extraordinary, fallible, and flawed. It meant he felt like one of us, made him all the more adored, which is why he left us grappling, left the cricket world defeated.”
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“From Launceston to the Long Room, we’ve all been left depleted. But flip that thought and think instead how enriched we are by Warne. Let’s salute a pure entertainer and to the greatest bowler ever born.”
Cummins also reflected on the chasm that Warne’s end has left in the cricketing fraternity, reiterating that as much as his absence might be felt deeply by his fans, they should seize the moment to celebrate the remarkable difference he made through spectacular performances over 15 years of international cricket.
