Shane Warne

[Rik E Boy]

There is no reason for Gilly to retire. He is still doing everything well and there is noone better than him coming through.

Having no one better coming through is irrelevant when you are talking retirements of great players. There is no one coming through better than Warnie either. The only reason for Gilly to retire would be the same reason as always..his passion to play on, something I thought might have been missing during the 2005 Ashes series.

regards,

REB

[blink]

After Saturday's efforts I think maybe Gilchrist's passion for the game may have been re-ignited - maybe momentarily though.

I think things may be quiet on the retirement front now until after the World Cup.

[Dutchy]

With Warne retiring,Martyn fleeing the game and country,McGrath on what most would feel the verge of retirement (probably playing the World Cup and then pulling the pin),does this give the likes of Hayden,Langer and Gilcrisht the feeling they are now more important than ever to Australia,and in turn decide to play on for some time yet? Perhaps Martyn and Warne had wind of such thoughts.
Perhaps Warne and Martyn are happy for others to be the "old heads" in the team.I think now Hayden and Langer will go on,where as previously I thought they may only go until next summer,form permitting.

good point especially with no obvious replacements coming through...

[devilsadvocate]

There is no reason for Gilly to retire. He is still doing everything well and there is noone better than him coming through.

I think that of all the players in the Aussie team, Gilly is the one player that can be replaced without a significant drop in quality.

IMO Brad Haddin is a ready made replacement for Gilly, and while he's not as good as Gilly, he's better than any other keeper playing international cricket given his batting ability.

There's no ready made replacement for Warnie, McGrath or the opening pair (cos Jaques can;t field for shite!!!).

Having said that, I hope that Gilly goes on. Watching him bat last Sunday was some of the best cricket I;ve ever seen.

[am Bays]

There is no reason for Gilly to retire. He is still doing everything well and there is noone better than him coming through.

I think that of all the players in the Aussie team, Gilly is the one player that can be replaced without a significant drop in quality.

IMO Brad Haddin is a ready made replacement for Gilly, and while he's not as good as Gilly, he's better than any other keeper playing international cricket given his batting ability.

There's no ready made replacement for Warnie, McGrath or the opening pair (cos Jaques can;t field for shite!!!).

Having said that, I hope that Gilly goes on. Watching him bat last Sunday was some of the best cricket I;ve ever seen.

Kumar Sangakarra???

He can play IMO is better than Haddin.....But there aren't too many others than Gilchrist, Sangakarra and possibly Dohni (if any) on the international stage who are better than Haddin

[devilsadvocate]

Fair point. Sangakarra's a quality keeper and handy bat.

I just hink that given the chance in green and gold / baggy green, Haddin will show his class.

If not, there's always Manou!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[blink]

If not, there's always Manou!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If it comes to that.....God help us!

He can keep wickets though, but nowadays that isn't everything.

[am Bays]

Friday, June 4, 1993, approximately 11:00 pm I was up that night trying to finish off an 3rd year uni assignment due on the Monday of SWOT vac. I had the radio on listening to the match. The POMS were 1/80 chasing 289 in the Ist Test at Old Trafford and AB has thrown the ball to Warney his first ball in test cricket in England would he be able to run through the POMS like he went through Sri Lanka and to a lesser extent the Windies in 92-93?

I can't remember who was on it might have been Neville Oliver, or Brian Johnston but suffice to say they had no idea what happened, I quickly turned the TV on and saw with my own eyes that Ball and Ritchie going as ballistic as he can...

from that moment on Warne was compulsory viewing as Ian Cover said in his book Merv and Me,

At the MCG I saw an amazing thing. Groups of football fans were turning their backs on the cream of Victoria's and South Australia's Aussie Rules stars to gather at TV monitors tuned to sky channel. Between races Sky was showing highlights of the previous nights cricket. Everyone was glued to the screens waiting for a glimpse of the Warne wizardry

That ball defined Warne, from that moment on you knew that you had to watch him as any moment he was capable of producing a Jaffa that could produce a wicket out of nothing. We as spectators new it, this team mates knew it, the opposition knew it and he knew it. He could never be undersestimated or taken lightly as he was capable of anything. When the ball was in his hands a wicket was a distinct possiblilty every ball.

We saw it time and time again, Gooch later that searies at Edgebaston, Gary Kirsten next summer at Adelaide Oval on day five out of the rough to win the game to draw the series, Bsit Ali, any ball to Cullinan, the list go on.

I was fortunate to see his wizardry 1st hand two years ago 'keeping at the Australian training session in Darwin. After Gilly finished his session I got to 'keep to Shane for two balls. 1st ball on a fifth day dead pitch he drifted it down leg side, Martyn went to leave it, the ball pitched in the rough just past his front foot and it has jumped and fizzed between Martyn and myself, over the top of the stumps and past my right shoulder, at that moment I thought to myself (even though I knew it already), "Hmm this bloke is really that good!!" As a hack 'keeper I had no chance, next ball he bowled Martyn played with a dead bat, so I never got to take a ball that Warne bowled even though I was behind the stumps for two of them. McGill I could read and take off the pitch it was that slow and he didn't put as much work on the ball, Warne you had to watch the hand or you were no chance!!!

Out of 397 test palyers he is #2 on our list, one of the rare players in any sport to change the game or the ethos of how a game is played. it was cool to be a spinner again, once where we had off spinners we now we want Leggies.

Who else rememebrs the buzz at Adelaide oval in 94-95 when McIntyre came on to bowl so we had two leggies bowling at the same time, incomprehnsible before Shane came on to the scene. FWIW McIntyre and to a lesser extent McGill owe their test careers to Shane as they wouldn't have got a game if it wasn't for Shane making leg spin popular again.

To Shane Warne I say thank you for the 15 years of cricketing joy you have provided us, the game is the richer for you gracing it and the poorer for you leaving it but you leave Australian cricket in a better state than what it was in January 1992.

Thank you Shane you are the greatest cricketer I've had the pleasure of watching

[rod_rooster]

Friday, June 4, 1993, approximately 11:00 pm I was up that night trying to finish off an 3rd year uni assignment due on the Monday of SWOT vac. I had the radio on listening to the match. The POMS were 1/80 chasing 289 in the Ist Test at Old Trafford and AB has thrown the ball to Warney his first ball in test cricket in England would he be able to run through the POMS like he went through Sri Lanka and to a lesser extent the Windies in 92-93?

I can't remember who was on it might have been Neville Oliver, or Brian Johnston but suffice to say they had no idea what happened, I quickly turned the TV on and saw with my own eyes that Ball and Ritchie going as ballistic as he can...

from that moment on Warne was compulsory viewing as Ian Cover said in his book Merv and Me,

At the MCG I saw an amazing thing. Groups of football fans were turning their backs on the cream of Victoria's and South Australia's Aussie Rules stars to gather at TV monitors tuned to sky channel. Between races Sky was showing highlights of the previous nights cricket. Everyone was glued to the screens waiting for a glimpse of the Warne wizardry

That ball defined Warne, from that moment on you knew that you had to watch him as any moment he was capable of producing a Jaffa that could produce a wicket out of nothing. We as spectators new it, this team mates knew it, the opposition knew it and he knew it. He could never be undersestimated or taken lightly as he was capable of anything. When the ball was in his hands a wicket was a distinct possiblilty every ball.

We saw it time and time again, Gooch later that searies at Edgebaston, Gary Kirsten next summer at Adelaide Oval on day five out of the rough to win the game to draw the series, Bsit Ali, any ball to Cullinan, the list go on.

I was fortunate to see his wizardry 1st hand two years ago 'keeping at the Australian training session in Darwin. After Gilly finished his session I got to 'keep to Shane for two balls. 1st ball on a fifth day dead pitch he drifted it down leg side, Martyn went to leave it, the ball pitched in the rough just past his front foot and it has jumped and fizzed between Martyn and myself, over the top of the stumps and past my right shoulder, at that moment I thought to myself (even though I knew it already), "Hmm this bloke is really that good!!" As a hack 'keeper I had no chance, next ball he bowled Martyn played with a dead bat, so I never got to take a ball that Warne bowled even though I was behind the stumps for two of them. McGill I could read and take off the pitch it was that slow and he didn't put as much work on the ball, Warne you had to watch the hand or you were no chance!!!

Out of 397 test palyers he is #2 on our list, one of the rare players in any sport to change the game or the ethos of how a game is played. it was cool to be a spinner again, once where we had off spinners we now we want Leggies.

Who else rememebrs the buzz at Adelaide oval in 94-95 when McIntyre came on to bowl so we had two leggies bowling at the same time, incomprehnsible before Shane came on to the scene. FWIW McIntyre and to a lesser extent McGill owe their test careers to Shane as they wouldn't have got a game if it wasn't for Shane making leg spin popular again.

To Shane Warne I say thank you for the 15 years of cricketing joy you have provided us, the game is the richer for you gracing it and the poorer for you leaving it but you leave Australian cricket in a better state than what it was in January 1992.

Thank you Shane you are the greatest

Best post ever

[ORDoubleBlues]

Did anyone see Brett Lee's column in yesterday's Herald Sun? I know the players always stick up for their teammates but that really was over the top in the sense that even Lee should be smart enough to see that even he only has 4 years left at best so it wouldn't be real good to have him, McGrath, Warne and Possibly even Clark all retire at the same time.

[Blue Boy]

Bowled Shane !!!!

[Ian]

Warne to do a Bradman, no wickets in the last 2 tests and finish his career on 699.

Unlikeley though, he's more likeley to take 10 or 12.
Well done Warney, you are a legend, and responsible for the large number of kids out there trying there hand at spin (particullary leg) bowling, best of luck in what ever you choose to do for the rest of your life.

[Rik E Boy]

Wrinkles. Yes, I'd rate Sangakarra higher than Haddin and Mark Boucher as well but Dhoni?? No way. As far as a significant drop off when Gilly retires, it would still occur because despite Haddin's experience and undoubted talent, he hasn't really found his feet yet at International level. There is something else to consider, the longer Gilly plays on the less opportunity that Haddin will have and Hartley, Croswaite, Ronchi and Paine will be watching with interest.

regards,

REB

[Aerie]

To watch a ball
pitch outside leg
and know it'll turn
to take off peg

To watch a wizard
cast spinning spells
on bewildered batsman
who couldn't tell

To win the toss
meant only one thing
bowling fourth innings
was left to The King

To watch the mind games
played out on screen
turning world class player
to insecure teen

To hear the chants
from a delirious hill
Waarney, Waarney
as he went for the kill

To see what it meant
when he'd take the wicket
we were ten foot tall
both sides of the pickets

To think of the legend
who excelled at his craft
will forever leave us
with a smile and a laugh

Thankyou Warney
for every wicket
Thankyou Warney
for the cricket

[am Bays]

Dhoni was only a possibility REB, he has started well with the bat but haven't seen enough of him yet to form a vaild opinion of him.

Boucher's batting has fallen away significantly in the last few years. His glovework is better than Gilly's and Sangakkarra's but his batting is miles behind both of them.....

[Rik E Boy]

Sometimes Boucher bats a long way down the order Wrinkles, but I see what you mean. You could say the same about Gilly as well though. Haddin could miss out altogether and be a modern Steve Rixon.

regards,

REB

[matt]

All hail, all hail the great man!

[Thiele]

Shane Warne thank you for so many memories

[Adelaide Hawk]

I can't remember who was on it might have been Neville Oliver, or Brian Johnston but suffice to say they had no idea what happened, I quickly turned the TV on and saw with my own eyes that Ball and Ritchie going as ballistic as he can...

It was Brian Johnston. He just went into shock mode.

I'm going to blow my own bags here. I recall Warne's 1st Test Match against India in 1992 at the SCG (where it began, so shall it end). Everyone recalls that Warne was touched up by Ravi Shastri and returned figures of 1/150, although he did bowl 45 overs. I remember thinking how impressed I was with his flight and control, but wondered why he kept bowling stock leggies to Shastri. Then I heard Terry Jenner on the radio explaining that Shane was raw, had only developed his leg spinner, and the rest will come later.

I went to the club that night and the talk from most people were about this fat legspinner who was cannon fodder and wouldn't play another Test. As I had seen something I liked, I argued the points Jenner had made. I was told I didn't have a clue, so I then made the statement that Warne would be a superstar in Test Cricket. I was laughed at, so to go one better I then claimed that one day Warne would be recognised as the greatest leg spinner the game had seen.

I'm not sure if I believed that final statement but it's amazing what lengths to which we will sometimes go just for the sake of argument. To be honest, the most prolific leggie I could think of was Richie Benaud with 248 wickets, and I was thinking Warne would get 300. At no stage did I ever envisage 700,

Anyway, I've had a lot of fun over the years, each time Warne bowls Australia to another victory I gently remind the guys at the club of those "ludicrous" statements I had made years earlier.