(Reuters) – Following are reactions to the death of Australian Shane Warne, one of the finest leg-spin bowlers of all time.
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON
“He was very kind and he was such a character that was, I think, what Australians loved about him as well. I mean, he knew he wasn’t perfect.
“His life was full of great achievements, but also regrets, and he carried them the same way with an honesty and a humility about it.
“I think people could see a lot of themselves in Shane in that way … but his dedication and professionalism and talent and, you know, as a cricketer that was just unrivalled, he was extraordinary.”
AUSTRALIA MEN’S CAPTAIN PAT CUMMINS
“Shane was a once-in-a-century cricketer and his achievements will stand for all time, but apart from the wickets he took and the games he helped Australia win, what he did was draw so many people to the sport.
“So many of us in the playing group grew up idolising him and fell in love with this great sport as a result, while many of our support staff either played with him or against him.
“It has been a terrible couple of days for Australian cricket with the passing of Rod Marsh and now Shane.”
AUSTRALIA WOMEN’S CAPTAIN MEG LANNING
“Losing Rod and Shane over the last couple of days has been very sad and our thoughts go out to the family and friends. They were two icons of the game who made massive impacts and certainly their mark has been left.”
AUSTRALIA GREAT RICKY PONTING
“Hard to put this into words. I first met him when I was 15 at the academy. He gave me my nickname. We were teammates for more than a decade, riding all the highs and lows together.
“Through it all he was someone you could always count on, someone who loved his family. Someone who would be there for you when you needed him and always put his mates first. The greatest bowler I ever played with or against.”
AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS’ ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT SHANE WATSON
“The cricket world has lost a great, a generation has lost a hero and many of us have lost a mate and confidant whose friendship and kindness will be with us forever. We will all miss him so much.”
EX-AUSTRALIA BOWLER GLENN MCGRATH
“Just absolutely devastated today. Warnie was larger than life. I thought nothing could ever happen to him. He lived more in his life than most people would live in 20. He was the ultimate competitor.
“He thought the game was never lost, that he could turn it around and bring us to victory, which he did so many times. I think he lived his life the same way. There seemed to be never a dull moment.”
ICC CHIEF EXECUTIVE GEOFF ALLARDICE
“He was a true legend of the game, who changed the landscape of cricket by reviving the art of leg-spin.
“His larger-than-life personality, extraordinary skill and immense cricketing intellect ensured fans were glued to their seats whenever he was involved in a game.”
RAJASTHAN ROYALS, THE IPL TEAM WARNE LED TO THE 2008 TITLE
“Shane Warne. The name stands for magic. Our first Royal; a man who made us believe that impossible is just a myth. A leader who walked the walk, talked the talk, and turned underdogs into champions. A mentor who turned everything he touched into gold.
“We’re completely heartbroken, as are millions of cricket fans all around the world. Warnie, you’re forever going to be our captain, leader, Royal. Rest in peace, legend.”
INDIA GREAT SACHIN TENDULKAR
“Will miss you Warnie. There was never a dull moment with you around, on or off the field. Will always treasure our on field duels & off field banter. You always had a special place for India & Indians had a special place for you.
“Gone too young!”
EX-AUSTRALIA WICKETKEEPER ADAM GILCHRIST
“Numb. The highlight of my cricketing career was to keep wicket to Warnie. Best seat in the house to watch the maestro at work.”
WEST INDIES GREAT BRIAN LARA
“I literally don’t know how to sum up this situation. My friend is gone!! We have lost one of the greatest sportsmen of all time!”
INDIA BATSMAN VIRAT KOHLI
“Life is so fickle and unpredictable. I cannot process the passing of this great of our sport and also a person I got to know off the field. RIP #goat. Greatest to turn the cricket ball.”
AUSTRALIA ALL-ROUNDER GLENN MAXWELL
“He was a pretty life-loving person. You’d be hard pressed to find a more caring, loyal, generous person than him. He gave his time to pretty much every cricketer that came through.
“He saw every leg spinner that was playing international cricket, state cricket when he was commentating, he’d be out there helping them out. He inspired multiple generations of players wanting to be Shane Warne. That’s the legacy he’s going to leave.”
AUSTRALIA BATSMAN DAVID WARNER
“Two legends of our game have left us too soon. I’m lost for words, and this is extremely sad. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Marsh and Warne family. I just cannot believe it.”
ENGLAND CAPTAIN JOE ROOT
“As a kid growing up, he was a massive idol of mine. Someone you wanted to emulate the way he could win a game on his own, his skill level was incredible. To have had the opportunity to get to know him a little bit it was deeply saddening to hear the news.”
FORMER PAKISTAN CAPTAIN SHAHID AFRIDI
“The game of cricket has lost what I consider a university of leg-spin bowling today. I was inspired by his bowling from the start of my career and it was always a privilege to play against him.”
WEST INDIES GREAT VIV RICHARDS
“Unbelievable. I am shocked to the core. This can’t be true… There are no words to describe what I feel right now. A huge loss for cricket.”
ROLLING STONES LEAD SINGER MICK JAGGER
“I’m so saddened by the sudden death of Shane Warne. He brought such joy to the game and was the greatest spin bowler ever.”
(Compiled by Manasi Pathak, Rohith Nair and Aadi Nair in Bengaluru, Michael Church in Hong Kong; Editing by Christian Radnedge/Toby Davis/Ken Ferris/Jane Wardell)
