Shane Warne’s brother Jason shares incredible, private letter

Shane Warne’s brother Jason has shared a private, 30-year-old letter which says everything about how he became a cricket icon.

Shane Warne’s brother Jason has shared a hand-written letter form 30 years ago — and it says everything about how the unassuming spinner grew into an Australian sporting goliath.

Jason Warne delivered an emotional farewell during the state memorial service at the MCG on Wednesday night — but it was his letter from 1992 that left viewers stunned.

Jason Warne was one of his brother’s closest friends and he was understandably shattered at the loss of the cricket legend, who died at the age of 52 in Thailand on March 4.

Jason was joined by dad Keith and Shane Warne’s children, Brooke, 24, Jackson, 22, and Summer, 20, in delivering moving tributes.

Jason’s speech included the revealing of a private letter he wrote to his brother at the time when the leg-spinner’s career exploded following the West Indies Tour of Australia in 1992.

It was the summer when Warne first began to emerge as a larger-than-life character — and showed glimpses of the cricketer he grew to become — the greatest spinner in the history of the sport.

Jason’s letter shows exactly how the man became the legend.

It references the 1992 Boxing Day Test where Warne was named man of the match in a test victory over the West Indies where he finished with figures of 7/52 in the second innings.

The letter was read out by master of ceremonies Eddie McGuire during the service.

“Shane, so I hear you’re in love. Tell me about Simone,” Jason wrote in the letter. “Congratulations on taking seven against the Windies in Melbourne. Me and Finn were going wild telling everyone you were my brother. Can’t tell you how proud of you I was when I first saw the teletext. Well done, keep it up.

Shane Warne's brother Jason shared his prophetic, private letter. Photo: Graham Denholm, Getty, Kayo.

“Loads of hard work at the nets could set you up for the rest of your life. Don’t let the chance slip by enjoying the limelight and resting on your laurels.

“That comes in 10 years time when you have re-written all the record books. Now is the time to put everything, and I mean everything, into it and make it work for you.
“So, come on, make some more sacrifices and give people the opportunity in 20 years’ time to say remember Shane Warne. We’ll never get another leggie like him. He was the best spinner Australia has ever had.”

That is exactly the cricketer Warne became.

Cricket commentators were blown away by the letter.

Fox Sports presenter Kath Durkin posted on Twitter: That letter from Jason Warne. Chills. Absolute chills. What an incredible memorial this has been”.

Racing reporter Mike Johnson wrote: “What a letter from Jason Warne to his brother! Nostradamus areas!”

Jason earlier was choked up with emotion at times as he shared private details about his relationship with his brother.

He revealed there was incredible love at the centre of their sibling rivalry.

“Like all big brothers, though, he also saw it as his job to torment me,” he said in his speech.

“His go-to method were extremely long sessions of the typewriter, pinning me down with his knees. I hated it but he laughed so much.”

He also needed moments to compose himself as he spoke of the way they became even closer as mates after Warne retired from cricket.

“I was always so proud of him,” he said.

“For the last 20 years, golf was our sport. For our ongoing competitiveness and also as others have mentioned, also an outlet for all the sledging he’s learnt over 15 years of international cricket. And it did work unfortunately.

“The friendly but fierce brotherly rivalry we had and shared for 50 years will never be replaced and will be sorely missed. He was the best brother I could have asked for, not just because he got us on to the side of the stage of Pearl Jam, but because he was my mate and he made me a better person.

“We pushed each other but for the right reasons. The bonds created through sport last a lifetime. The bonds of brothers lasts a lifetime. I’m very fortunate to have shared both of these bonds with him. He will leave a massive hole in my life that will never be filled. I will always love him and always miss my big brother. Rest in peace, mate.”