Saturday, December 23, 2006

Legend bids farewell

There are very few sport person on the world stage who have created so much magic that sometimes they seems to be bigger than the game. People used to say that first there is God and then it was Bradman but when it comes to bowling first it is Shane Keith Warne and then there is rest.Arguably the greatest spinner of all time ,Shane Warne has done it all.In an era which followed the era of the pace battery of West Indies Cricket he showed to the world to instill fear in the minds of the batsman you don't need to bowl at 100 mph.He just bamboozled them all with his variety . Who can forget the bowl he bowled to Mike Gatting famously called "the bowl of the century".His presence on the cricket field is electrifying . And in an era which saw the rise of Australian cricket as the undisputed powerhouse at the international level , no one can doubt that this rise was largely due to a man whom his mates call "Hollywood" and for the rest of the world is Warnie.For me the greatest cricketer whom I have seen and it is a sad day that his illustrious career is coming to an end. This is my tribute to a man who made this game what is today.I have collected few of the quotes which the cricketing world expressed on knowing about his retirement.And this shows that when a player has the respect of his opponents ,then he is truly a legend or you can say then is truly 'Shane Warne".
"For me, he was the reason you played cricket. To be in a test against him, you knew you were in a battle with Warne, verbally, physically, mentally and technically." -- Former England captain Nasser Hussain

"In the space of a short time, he's turned the game upside down, changed it in concept. I think his greatest single achievement is not necessarily the 700 wickets, but the fact that when Wisden chose the five cricketers of the century, they chose Donald Bradman, Garry Sobers, Jack Hobbs, and Viv Richards -- and Shane Warne who had only been playing since 1991. That's quite remarkable." -- Former Australia captain Richie Benaud

"As a wicketkeeper there's no better spot to be than standing behind the stumps to Shane Warne at any time really. But when he's on song it's quite mesmerizing, so he brings a great deal of joy to me, just like everyone else sitting around watching. He makes us look good because he's so brilliant," --Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist

"He comes in a very special lot. We don't see such cricketers every day. He has been a treat to watch. I don't know what was going in his mind (when he announced his retirement) but he knows better. What he has achieved is remarkable, he has been a great ambassador for cricket and Australia." --Indian Legend Sachin Tendulkar

"In cricketing terms he is the ultimate legend. He's probably the best bowler there has ever been on this planet." -- England batsman Paul Collingwood

"I'd like to think of myself as an entertainer that would go out there and try to put on a show. I used to go over the top occasionally with the appealing but that's me expressing myself." -- Shane Warne

4 comments:

  1. Wish you and your family a very happy new year 207, Shishir.

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  2. I meant 2007...me bad! :)

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  3. one maestro has left the cricket scene
    another has come back to the blog
    scene.
    welcome back..........;-)

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  4. havent watched a crkt match in ages now.....
    hope u had a great start to 2007.....wish u a beautiful year ahead .....:)
    u changed the template, dint u ???? a new year change ??? :)

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