It is official. Shane Warne has announced his retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket after the fifth Ashes test in Sydney. The greatest bowler in test history will stride the green stages of world cricket no more. It is a little surprising as there were hints he would go on but Warne revealed that if Australia had won the Ashes in 2005 he would have called it quits back then. With the Ashes back in Australia he can retire a winner.
And as we contemplate his career and the future of Australian cricket without the Sheik of Tweak, you can’t review Warne’s career without talking about the two Warnies.
Warney One: The On Field Genius
As impressive as they are, Warney’s bowling stats (to be concluded but will break 700 test wickets at the MCG) are a dry figure and do not measure the greatness of Warne as a bowler. His ability to impose his will on the game was extraordinary (except in India). Even when we lost the Ashes in 2005, Warne took 40 wickets in the series, fighting a valiant rearguard action all the way. And while his bowling itself, with all manners of subtle variation with flight and drift as well as those famous big leg breaks, it was the manner in which he bowled. The aura of arrogant confidence was just as important factor in taking wickets as his ability with the ball. Warne at his best was a joy to watch and one of the greatest sights in modern test cricket. I will miss him and I dare say we will never see the cricketing likes of him again.
Warney Two: The Off Field Idiot
For someone who exuded so much confidence and self belief on the field, his actions off the field suggested that at heart he was still a little boy in constant need of reassurance and validation from others. His sexual escapades, lewd text messages and failed marriage are well documented. Then there was the drug incident that saw Warne banned from the game for 12 months. It is hard to reconcile the genius bowler with the blundering blonde boob off field. This is the Warney that I will not miss.
As for Australian cricket, it will be a big loss. Australia won’t plummet to the bottom of the rankings but it will bring them back to the field. Any young spinner coming through will have to contend with Warne’s legacy for many a year.
The career of Warne will be talked about for decades to come. For those that did see him play, they’ll be able to tell their grand kids about the experience in much the same way as tales of Bradman were passed down through families. Just don’t mention the other Warne beloved by the tabloids.
Update: Georg, LP’s resident Warney Watcher has a lovely post with Warney video goodness. Skepticlawyer has her take at Catallaxy. Steve Edney farewells Warney at Criticality.
12 responses so far ↓
skepticlawyer // Dec 21, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Great post Shaun, although I do think the point Warney made a couple of years ago that the people who were teeing off at him weren’t so hot either is a valid one.
Bring Back CL's blog // Dec 21, 2006 at 2:35 pm
you forgot the can’t bowl, can’t bat and can’t field incident when a cameraman was rolled out to take the blame. We weren’t told cameraman deliberately can’t be heard on camera.
He was a little boy who got his own way a lot because he was never taught the right thing at a young age.
A great shame
David Jackmanson // Dec 21, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Yes he has been a bad boy off field, and that proves (if it needed proving) that there is one rule for the famous and successful, and one for others.
He would have been sacked as an embarrasment years ago if he could not break the laws of physics.
However, I want to mention one-other on-field thing in his favour.
His batting.
Yep, ever since last year at the Ashes (when his rearguard batting action in one of the Tests got Australia to within 3 runs of victory), there has been a very strong vibe that lower-order batsmen have to be able to bat a bit, or at least not recklessly throw away wickets.
At least that’s when I started noticing, presumably that vibe has been working its way into the public notice for a few years.
Shaun // Dec 21, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Good point David. I haven’t seen the press conference so I’m not sure what exactly was said but it well known that Warney coveted a test century. He has come oh so close twice I think.
One thing I haven’t mentioned is that Warney has the sense to retire at the right time and go out as a winner.
Georg // Dec 21, 2006 at 7:45 pm
Great post Shaun.
I have to admit I am still coming to terms with the fact that the next Test series will be Warne-free.
David, you make a very good point. Warney’s batting has been a highlight of the past couple of years. It was so fitting that he holed out on 99 only to find out later through video replay that the ball that got his wicket was indeed a no-ball. It just fits the script.
And: trackback.
Liam // Dec 21, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Shaun, you can hardly call using a banned diuretic/masking agent an ‘off-the-field’ misdemeanour, any more than you can say that of Ben Johnson’s or Tyler Hamilton’s use of sports drugs.
wrongun // Dec 21, 2006 at 7:54 pm
I didn’t know whether to bring that Catallaxy post over here or not, Shaun. Sorry if you wanted me to, but I thought it had too much non-sporting commentary in it.
Georg // Dec 21, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Liam you’ve got a point. But what is it with Warney that makes some of us forget things like this? Like his dalliance with the Indian bookmakers? I had forgotten that until this evening. I don’t consider myself to be someone who forgets such misdemeanors, nor someone who is bowled over by blokes for that matter, but somehow Warney seems to encourage forgiveness. Beats me why.
Shaun // Dec 21, 2006 at 8:05 pm
Yeah, fair point Liam. Now don’t do that again.
And it wasn’t till the train home I remembered the Indian bookies as well so good point Georg.
Five // Dec 22, 2006 at 7:48 am
Great post. All my workmates said they didn’t care, Shane Warne was such a tosser he was best out of the game.
I corrected them. He’s a bowler, I said.
wrongun // Dec 23, 2006 at 12:54 pm
McGrath going after Sydney too. I am so gonna be concreted in front of the telly watching the last two tests.
mastdies // May 3, 2007 at 12:44 am
Hello!