Adam Gilchrist pays tribute to late teammate and friend Shane Warne

Adam Gilchrist had the most-privileged view of Shane Warne’s magic throughout his Test career. Gilly reveals what made Warnie so special and his on-field quirks.

(FILES) In this file photograph taken on December 18, 2006, Australian team members (L/R): Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, captain Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne grip the replica Ashes urn on day five of the third Ashes Test against England in Perth, after Australia regained the Ashes with a 206-run win following another spectacular English batting collapse on the final day of the third Test at the WACA. – Australia cricket great Shane Warne, widely regarded as one of the greatest Test players of all time, has died of a suspected heart attack aged 52, according to a statement from his management company on March 4, 2022. Warne's management said the retired leg-spinner died in Koh Samui, Thailand. (Photo by TONY ASHBY / AFP)

My family are not known as punters but on Saturday night in Perth we had an important little detour to the roulette tables.

We were celebrating my wife’s Mel’s 50th birthday at the Crown Casino and felt it essential to have a little dabble on 23 red … Shane Warne’s favourite number and one which will forever be linked with his name.

Warnie’s death still doesn’t feel real to me and I was so shocked when my son Archie told me he had heard the news from a mate I had to wait to have it officially confirmed before I believed it.

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There are times when Rod Marsh or Shane Warne would call me and I couldn’t believe I had their number in my phone.

Both may have passed but I promise you this — I could never delete their numbers from my phone.

Already I cast my mind forward to next summer and it feels empty. I know time heals and people come in but there’s only one Warnie.

I heard from Warnie just eight hours before he died because he contacted me to say he enjoyed a little tribute piece I did for Fox Cricket on Rod’s passing.

Memories? Where do we start?

Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting celebrate a wicket.

Gilchrist and Warnie at the desk for Fox Cricket.

His generosity, underestimated by those who didn’t know him, was a strong suit of Warnie’s. I remember flying home with a knee injury after the third Test at Old Trafford in 1997 and Warnie was on the same flight because his daughter Brooke was born.

We flew home together and he used his points to upgrade me to first class. Sitting next to a legend who had just become a father was an experience I will always cherish.

At Christmas he would pay for a lavish function at his home and I know the English team benefited from his generosity this summer.

A number of the English players flew via helicopter to an exclusive golf club outside Melbourne after Warnie arranged the flights and rounds of golf for them.

Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne appeal for a wicket.

Adam Gilchrist celebrates with Shane Warne at the end of a Test in 1999.

I know they gave Warnie a gift for doing so but when the bill came in it was five figures.

When the bill arrived Warnie’s reaction was “oh, okay then.’’

At no point did he say “are they going to pay me?’’ He just quietly fixed up the bill and moved on.

There was no complaining or whinging from Warnie.

That was typical of the man and his generosity of spirit.

My relationship with him which was already established from playing with him and it reached new heights in our four years together at Fox Cricket.

There were times when Warnie’s brilliant mind games felt like a Spielberg production when I kept to him.

You could feel Warnie’s intimidation from the top of his mark. He’d wait and pause – and pause again – particularly to a new batter who would occasionally pull out of his stance which would only make Warnie start walking in.

Adam Gilchrist celebrates another Warne wicket.

The dynamic duo celebrate another scalp.

He scrambled the batters mind and would turn and talk the umpire – he loved South Africa’s Rudi Koertzen – and say things like “get ready for that wrong un.’’

It was mesmerising.

Toughness of mind and body was one of Warnie’s most underrated strengths. He may have lived the Hollywood lifestyle and been an A lister of the highest order But, in a cricketing sense, he got down and dirty and worked really, really hard and had shoulder and finger surgeries and just put them aside.

He was one of small number of people who called me Church after the day an English Kiwi fan called me Eric Gilchurch and I enjoyed it as a term of endearment.

I’ve stated this always and will until I’m not around to say it around it any longer but the highlight of my cricket career was to wicketkeep to Warnie.

To sit behind the stumps and see the theatre unfold from a showman of the highest order was an experience I will cherish for life.