Shane Warne’s 50 most memorable moments
Shane Warne is many things to Australia — cricketer, Instagrammer, baked bean lover. In honour of the spin king’s 50th birthday, we look back at the highs and lows of his incomparable career.
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Shane Warne reached a major milestone over the weekend, however this one won’t come with a ball in his hand.
The Spin King celebrated his 50th birthday on Saturday, so to honour the legendary cricketer, we’ve taken a look back at Warnie’s 50 most memorable moments.
50 — Celebrating his 50th birthday at a special place
While he didn’t celebrate his birthday in his extravagant Brighton mansion, Shane Warne spent the day at a venue that he’s done some of his best work at.
Having covered the final Ashes test at the Ashes at The Oval, the London pitch was a happy stomping ground for the Aussie during his career, given he took 32 wickets at the ground, including three five-wicket hauls; the most of any ground in the UK.
49 — His personalised pool
Warnie isn’t the most modest man in the world, but then again why would you be when you’re the greatest bowler this country has ever seen?
His touch of arrogance was evident in the backyard of his former Melbourne home, which includes a large personalised swimming pool donning his cricket number, 23.
48 — Bringing in the New Year in style
So when you’re house is as grand as his, then why wouldn’t you throw an exclusive New Year’s Eve party with some of Melbourne’s biggest names?
In 2016, Warnie hosted a ‘Back to School’ themed party to bring in the New Year, with the likes of Billy Brownless, Sam Newman among a raft of sportsman and models donning the knee high socks and blazers.
47 — A political correspondent
The 50-year-old is a lot of things, but a political correspondent isn’t one of them.
In the midst of the Brexit debacle in the UK, Warnie decided to weigh-in on the very complex political stalemate, and his comments didn’t sit well with a lot of people.
“Boris is good, everyone's great, it's a great country…get on with it!â€
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) September 4, 2019
Cricket commentator and former Australian leg-spinner @ShaneWarne says the UK has “made its decision†and should "get on" with Brexit#r4Today | @bbcnickrobinson pic.twitter.com/pGM2XMGSQl
46 — A jack of all trades
While he was an outstanding cricketer, Shane Warne is also a handy golfer.
Having played in some high profile events such as the Alfred Dunhill Links Tournament at some of the world’s best courses, his greatest achievement may have come at the prestigious August National Golf Club.
On the 16th hole, Warnie pulled a 6-iron out of his bag on the 16th at the home of the US Masters, and secured his first hole-in-one.
45 — Bearded Warnie
Every man experiments with facial hair once in their life, and for Warnie, it came back in 2017, when he decided to let his beard grow.
Unfortunately for the Spin King, his Instagram post promoting the new look didn’t quite garner the admiration from his followers he would have hoped.
His son, Jackson, compared the look to former AFL star Jason Akermanis, as the brown beard didn’t compliment his blonde spiky hair, and his ex-fiance Elizabeth Hurley chimed in, commenting “Good God, a beard???”
44 — Warnie-mojis
A lot of sportsmen look to venture out and try unique ways to continue to build their brand after retirement, and the Aussie took things to the next level with his Warnie-mojis in 2016.
The range included some vintage Warnie looks such as a characterture of the great man bowling and his now-famous dance on the Trent Bridge balcony in 1997, but also some more obscure poses in budgy smugglers and a cartoon of himself skulling a beer.
43 — Warne’s warriors debut in US
In 2015, Shane Warne attempted to get cricket in the US market, teaming up with Indian superstar Sachen Tendulkar for the Cricket All-Stars Series.
Warne’s Warriors took on Sachin’s Blasters across three cities in the United States in 2015, with both sides stacked full of legends of the game including Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting and VVS Laxman.
‘Warne’s Warriors’ claimed bragging rights in the first and final edition of the series.
42 — A Warney for your bookshelf
Like all Aussies, Warnie loved a beer or two, so it was no surprise when it was announced that Shane Warne would be the face of Victoria Bitter’s campaign in 2007.
Taking the reins from fellow cricket great David Boon, the popular beer company released a talking Warnie figurine, which depicted him sitting in an armchair with a beer in his hand, firing off some of his favourite catchphrases.
41 — Shane, the art connoisseur
Like we mentioned in moment #49, Warnie enjoys his own work.
So much so, that he commissioned a piece of art depicting some of the world’s biggest names including the likes of Angelina Jolie, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Presley, joining the King of Spin in an A-list party in his own backyard.
We’re unsure whether this is really cool, or really weird.
40 — The big man gets himself in a spin
While Warney was a bit of a larrikin off the field, on the field he could certainly get fired up.
During a 1994 test against South Africa, Warne was forced to bide his time for the first 44 overs before eventually being brought into the attack.
The then 24-year-old bowled batsman Andrew Hudson, and proceeded to lose the plot, screaming a range of obscenities as the batsman walked back to the pavilion.
Warne was fined 100 per cent of his match fee and was heckled for the remainder of the match.
39 — Warnie becomes the sixth member of Coldplay
Very few, apart from Brett Lee, have successfully mastered both cricket and music.
During Coldplay’s concert at the then-Etihad Stadium in Melbourne back in 2016, the retired cricketer jumped on stage alongside frontman Chris Martin for the band’s hit song Don’t Panic and busted out a surprisingly impressive harmonica solo.
So much fun last night @coldplay
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) December 11, 2016
https://t.co/Q8MIzTA2h7
38 — Cricketer turned nightclub host
While the Warnie-mojis may have flopped, Warne’s venture into the hospitality business was a roaring success.
Opening at Crown Casino back in 2011, the cricketer was an ambassador for the exclusive venue Club 23, which has hosted some of the world’s biggest names such as Usain Bolt, Harry Kewell, Tiger Woods and AFL premiership stars.
The venue closed its doors earlier this year.
37 — Warne appears in Kath and Kim in 2007
Kath and Kim was once a fixture of Australian TV, so what do you get when you combine an iconic TV show with an iconic sportsman? A brilliant piece of TV.
Warne guest starred in the final episode of Kath and Kim as a man named Wayne, who falls in love with the sports-loving Sharon Strezelecki, played by Magda Szubanski.
The episode was a hit and Warne’s performance was top-notch, dropping in jokes about his text messaging scandal that took place just a few years prior.
36 — Recognised as one of the game’s greats
In 2000, Shane Warne was recognised as one of the all-time greats of the game, named alongside Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Jack Hobbs and Sir Vivian Richards in the Wisden Cricketers of the Century.
The panel, consisting of 100 cricket experts, selected Warne in fourth position ahead of Richards, making him the only specialist bowler and only active player awarded the honour.
35 — A man with very particular tastebuds
During a 1998 tour of India, Shane Warne couldn’t stomach the local cuisine, and was forced to eat breakfast cereal, toast, and cheese and Vegemite on naan bread for the first two weeks.
So in a bid to stop their star bowler from wasting away, Australian officials ordered 1,900 tins of baked beans and spaghetti across to the team’s camp on a QANTAS flight.
34 — Involved in spat with teenage boys
In 2000, the Aussie bowler found himself involved in an altercation with a ten-year-old New Zealand boy in Wellington, after the young fan took a photo of Warne smoking a cigarette.
While we all know Warnie isn’t a picture of health and enjoys a smoke here and there, he was particularly riled up because just a year prior, he signed a large deal with a pharmaceutical company to give up the gaspers and promote its anti-smoking gum and patches.
Warne snatched the young Kiwi’s bag, and refused to give it back until the child gave the roll of film back.
Police were eventually called to diffuse the situation.
33 — Named in greatest test team ever
Already recognised by Wisden back at the turn of the century, Warne was once again awarded a great honour, named in the Wisden all-time World Test XI.
Warne and Sir Donald Bradman were the only two Australians to make the side, with the former a worthy inclusion given his 145 test caps and economy rate of 25.41.
32 — An IPL champion
Warnie’s skillset wasn’t simply limited to the longest form of the game, he was also a force to be reckoned with in the shortest form, Twenty20.
Warne was captain of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League during the competition’s debut season in 2008, and led his side to an IPL championship, despite being written-off by many pundits before the season.
31 — Bamboozles Chanderpaul
There may have been no better sight in Australian cricket in the early 2000s than seeing Shane Warne bamboozle an unsuspecting batsman.
In 1996, a 22-year-old Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was playing just his 13th test, was facing the Spin King, when Warne pitched a delivery a good metre outside the off stump, before it ripped back and rattled West Indian’s middle stump.
It’s described as one of Warne’s greatest ever deliveries.
30 — Warne’s modern-day love story
Warne’s relationships have been well publicised over his 50 years, however he made no attempt to hide his pursuit of love in 2015, when he was discovered to be using the popular matchmaking app, Tinder.
While many of his advances with great scepticism from other users, he did manage to hit it off with a 43-year-old Adelaide mother of two.
Unfortunately for the single Melbourne man, the women opened up to a tabloid magazine about her experiences with Warne, that he took great exception to.
29 — The moment he let history slip through his hands
There may be no worse feeling in cricket than costing one of your teammates at a hat-trick.
Some of the best bowlers in the world go their whole careers without taking three consecutive wickets, let alone doing it twice.
So when bowler Damien Fleming had claimed the wickets of two Indian batsman in back-to-back deliveries, he was on the verge of entering cricketing folklore.
Fleming, aka The Bowlogist, bowled a delivery that caught the edge Javagal Singh, and it rocketed off to Warne in first slip, who dropped the borderline undroppable and left himself, Fleming, the commentators and the crowd in disbelief
28 — A tantrum at Madaam Tusaads
Not many people enjoy strangers commenting on their expanding waistline, and Shane Warne is no exception.
At the unveiling of his wax figure at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the bowler stormed out of a media appearance after a brave journalist suggested the model was created a few months ago when Warne was a bit lighter.
27 — Caught up with the wrong crowd
In 1998, it came to light Shane Warne and fellow Aussie cricketer Mark Waugh had been fined for supplying information to an Indian bookmaker regarding pitch conditions and team selection.
At the time it was considered one of the game’s biggest crises given Cricket Australia (formerly Australian Cricket Board) had covered up the scandal since the pair were fined $10,000 in 1995.
There was no evidence of match-fixing.
26 — Becomes a TV host
We’ve seen Shane Warne pursue a lot of different interests, however in 2010, he tried his hand as a TV host.
In 2010, Warnie, a cricket-themed variety show launched on Channel 9, in which the cricketer interviewed some of his high-profile friends including James Packer, Chris Martin, Sting and Jeremy Clarkson.
The show was axed in early 2011 before its final episode.
25 — Stood down as vice-captain
While playing for English county side Hampshire in 2000, Warne had sent a number of lewd text messages and left a bevy of voicemails to a woman he met at an English nightclub.
As a result, Warne was stood down as vice-captain and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist assumed the role.
24 — A video-game pioneer
It seems in the modern era, one of the greatest achievements for a sportsman is to have a video game named after them.
For Warnie, that came just before the turn of the century with the release of Shane Warne ‘99 on computer and PlayStation.
The game revolutionised the industry, with its lifelike graphics, various game modes, and realistic gameplay.
There’s no wonder it’s become an all-time classic.
23 — A charitable man
The Shane Warne Foundation was a not-for-profit organisation founded by the man himself back in 2004.
The Foundation aimed to raise much-needed funds for seriously ill and underprivileged kids and teenagers, however despite raising valuable funds and hosting a series of exclusive events, the organisation was forced to shut in 2016 in response to “unwarranted speculation”.
22 — Hanging up the whites
Back in the day, once a player gave the game away, they were done for good, however in the modern era, there are so many formats, that a player can slowly ease their way out of the sport over several years.
That’s how Warnie gave the game away, finally bringing his career to an end in 2013.
In July, 2013, the Melbourne native announced he wouldn’t be captaining his hometown domestic T20 side, the Melbourne Stars, in the 2014/15 season, which brought an end to his illustrious career.
21 — Appears on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here
While Warnie didn’t prove to be a TV success, the cricketer was a hit on the 2016 edition of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here.
The cricketer became a likeable character after being put in a series of uncomfortable situations, such as handling a tarantula despite his crippling fear of spiders.
However upon his elimination, Warne revealed the deal that he and Channel 10 had struck before appearing on the show.
Warne was paid a cool $2 million to enter the jungle, and was allowed smoke breaks and the team from Advanced Hair to come and fix his hair.
20 — Man of the match in 1999 World Cup
In 1999, Australia claimed its second World Cup title after toppling Pakistan in the final at Lord’s.
The Aussies skittled Pakistan for just 132 runs, in a first innings that saw Warne claim match-best figures of 4/33.
The outstanding bowling performance earned him Man of the Match honours to go along with his impressive tournament.
19 — Shane Warne v Marlon Samuels in 2013
As we saw back in 1994, Shane Warne has been known to get quite riled up on the cricket field.
In a cross-town clash between Warne’s Melbourne Stars and Marlon Samuels’ Melbourne Renegades, the Aussie took exception to some of Samuels’ behaviour, which spiralled into an ugly situation.
After some shirt tugging from Warne and throwing the ball at his opponent, the Star pushed his opponent over the edge, resulting in Marlon Samuels to throw his bat in Warne’s direction.
18 — 1,000th international wicket in 2006
On January 3, 2007, Shane Warne became the second ever cricketer to claim 1,000 international wickets.
During the second day of the fifth test against England at the SCG, Warne’s delivery struck tailender Monty Panesar on the pad, getting him out LBW.
17 — Shane Warne and Mark Nicholas commentators curse
Is there anything more frustrating for a fan than a commentator’s curse?
In Australia’s test against South Africa in 2016, Shane Warne joined Mark Nicholas in the commentary box for Channel 9, when Nicholas made the comment that Warner had never been stranded in the 90s, while in the 90s.
Sure enough, Warner was sent back to the pavilion just moments later, and Warne showed his discontent with his colleague and threatened to walk out.
16 — Inducted into Cricket Australia Hall of Fame in 2012
In 2012, Shane Warne was recognised for his contributions to the game by being inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
The committee made a unanimous choice to award the honour to the spinner.
15 — Inducted into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013
Just a year later, Warne received another honour, this time on a grander scale, by being inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
The leg spinner became the 69th member of the Hall of Fame, recognised alongside fellow Aussie Glenn McGrath, England’s Enid Bakewell and West Indies’ Brian Lara.
14 — Immortalised in bronze
In December 2011, a bronze statue of Warne was unveiled outside the MCG, where he represented Victoria and Australia on so many occasions.
Warnie joined fellow cricketing legends Sir Donald Bradman, Keith Miller and Dennis Lillee, who all are immortalised on the Parade of Champions.
13 — Bowls KP around the legs
For a long time, Kevin Pietersen was an enemy of Australian cricket fans, so when Shane Warne bowled the Englishman around his legs in 2006, the delivery became an instant classic.
Pietersen tried to sweep the Aussie to the boundary, however the Spin King beat him for pace, and absolutely bamboozled KP.
12 — Becomes a Dad
While he’s a great cricketer, Shane Warne is also a great father.
Warnie and his ex-wife, Simone, welcomed their first child, daughter Brooke, back in 1997 before having a nother two childrenin the years to come.
The eldest two, Brooke and Jackson, became the stars of a new Kayo commercial in recent months, which poked fun at their celebrity father.
11 — 8/71 v England in 94
Shane Warne’s performance against England at the Gabba in 1994, proved to be a career-best outing, claiming 8/71.
With the Poms needing 508 to win, the visitors were hoping to eke out a draw, however the Aussie spinner had different ideas.
Warne ripped through the English batting line-up in 50 overs, dismissing all but two of its men.
10 — Face of Advanced Hair
Warnie’s famous blonde locks became a trademark of his during his playing days, however they were almost gone if it wasn’t for his partnership with Advanced Hair Studios.
The Aussie has endorsed the brand since 2005, and the ads grew in popularity thanks to his catchy jingle ‘Advanced Hair, yeah yeah’.
9 — Warne hooks up with Elizabeth Hurley
Just months after his split with ex-wife Simone Warne, the spinner was caught kissing English model Elizabeth Hurley, who he eventually became engaged to in 2011.
The model moved into Warne’s Brighton home, which caught the attention of many, however just two years later, the pair separated.
8 — Instagram selfies
Generally speaking, Instagram and men over 40 don’t mix well, and despite his sporting achievements and large fan base, Shane Warne is no exception to the rule.
Boasting over one million followers, Shane Warne’s Instagram is littered with your standard content, such as pictures of cricket grounds, golf courses and the like, however the most alarming trend is his obsession with selfies.
Sorry Shane, but this is not the Warnie we came to know and love.
7 — Makes 99 in 2002
Making a century in a test match is no mean feat, so for a bowler to make 100, is a massive achievement.
Facing New Zealand at the WACA in 2001, Warne and McGrath were forming a solid last wicket partnership, and the leg spinner was closing in on his maiden ton.
While on 99, Warne launched what has been described as a “filthy slog” off the bowling of Daniel Vettori, which was caught at deep mid-wicket.
To make matters worse, a replay showed the Kiwi had bowled a no ball, meaning the Aussie should have reached the milestone with ease.
6 — Banned for positive drug test
In what is unarguably the darkest moment in Warne’s career, the then 33-year-old was sent home one day before the 2003 World Cup after testing positive to a banned substance.
The product was a prohibited diuretic, which he claimed was given to him by his mother in a bid to improve his appearance.
A committee assembled by the authorising body found him guilty of the breach, and banned him from all organised cricket for 12 months.
5 — Test debut in ‘92
Making your test debut is the dream of every young Australian cricketer, and Warnie got to live out that dream in 1992.
Called into the side after just seven first-class matches, Warne didn’t quite set the cricket world alight straight away, taking 1/150, and finishing the series with figures of 1/228.
Regardless, it was the unveiling of arguably the best cricketer this country has ever seen.
4 — Retirement from international cricket in 2007
Following the dominant, historic victory over England on home soil in the 2007 Ashes, Shane Keith Warne announced his retirement from international cricket.
His final test was played at the SCG, the same venue as his first, leaving the game with 1,001 international wickets.
His retirement was shared with other icons of the game including, Glenn McGrath, Damien Martyn and Justin Langer, with then captain Ricky Ponting labelling it as the “end of an era”.
3 — Balcony dance in ‘97
Thanks to the power of GIFs and the internet, Shane Warne’s dance on the Trent Bridge balcony, has lived on to become a lot bigger than anyone could have expected.
With a stump above his head, Warne swayed his hips from side to side, taunting the English locals.
If it wasn’t for his Instagram selfies, this may have gone down as his cringiest moment.
2 — 700th wicket at MCG
If this Australian sport’s greatest Cinderella moments, then it’s certainly up there among the best.
Australia had already secured the Ashes, so the attention of all those watching at the MCG and at home was on the hometown hero to see if he could become the first cricketer to take 700 test wickets.
Coming into the match with 699 scalps, Warne bowled a delivery to Andrew Strauss that spun between the Englishman’s bat and pad, and dislodged the bails.
The near-90,000 strong crowd erupted as Warne raised his finger, ran around in circles before holding the ball aloft and saluting the crowd that had supported him throughout his entire career.
1 — Ball of the century
It’s described the ‘Ball of the Century’, and rightly so.
During the first test of the 1993 Ashes Series in England, Warne produced an absolute peach of a delivery with his first ever ball against the Poms to dismiss batsman Mike Gatting.
Warne pitched it outside the line of leg stump at a good length, which ripped back across the bat of the right-handed Gatting, clipping the top of off stump.
Not only was it a textbook delivery, but it also revolutionised leg spinning bowling and stamped the Aussie’s presence on the game.
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