Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: “Dear Shane” – Tribute to Shane Warne, from an India fan | India fan pays tribute to the late, great Shane Warne
Dear Shane,
Your sudden passing has left us totally shattered. It has also made us realize how life is so bloody fickle. It’s like one of your vicious googly, messing up all our plans, just like you used to mess up a batsman’s defence.
Anyways, this ain’t a post to celebrate your on-field achievements. Enough has been written and will be written about it. And, honestly, Shane, even a billion words won’t do justice to your achievements.
But, you were more than just those 1000 odd wickets or the 1000s of runs that you scored at the international level. Because, you know, Shane, there are very few cricketers, let alone spinners, who had this infectious charisma that attracted bums on seats.
You were the ultimate showman; one who enthralled, gobsmacked, made us tear our hair apart, shattered us (when India was playing against you) in equal measure.
Plenty of cricketers have been blessed with insane skills, but, Shane, in your case, it just wasn’t skills, it’s how you plotted a batsman’s demise which made you special.
Cricket was like a 4D chess for you, and more often than not, you were always, ALWAYS, five steps ahead of the opposition.
Shane, you were a perfect reflection of a flawed genius. When you were not winning Australia games of cricket, you were busy hitting on women, cheating on your wife, or taking money from bookies. You were also pretty annoying as a commentator at times. Even though your knowledge about the game is unparalleled, and you never shield away from giving an opinion – qualities which I admire the most in you – it felt that your ego clouded over your judgement sometimes.
You were also pretty loud and at times uninformed about the other team players, and at that moment we may have wanted you out of the comm box. But, you were also the first player to applaud, clap for a good performance from an opposition; you were also the one who raised charities during the 2004 Tsunami; you were also the one who would go to any extent to help for people you cared for. And that was very clear in the many tributes aimed your way.
You were also the one who would keep giving autographs to his fans until no one was left to ask; you were also the one who was more than eager to share your huge reservoir of wisdom with youngsters.
As I said, you were a flawed genius; a perfect embodiment of life; but your good deeds far far FAR outdid your misdemeanours.
It’s funny, Shane! Two months ago, I used to mute you whenever you used to come on air, but, now that you have been muted forever, your voice keeps echoing in my head.
But, then, as they say, we always realize, appreciate the worth of someone when they are no longer with us.
Written by Yash Mittal. Follow Yash on Twitter today.
Also read: Over 50,000 attend Shane Warne Memorial to remember one of cricket’s greatest