Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Sky Sports unveil Shane Warne Commentary Box at Lord’s | Shane Warne Commentary Box unveiled at Lord’s in ENG vs NZ 1st Test
The start of the English Test summer is always an exciting occasion, but there was a bit of sombre feel ahead of the first Test against New Zealand. There was no Shane Warne, whose presence was felt anywhere he went, particularly in the Sky Sports commentary box.
Warne, who tragically passed away in March, was honoured by the Sky Sports team before the start of play. The Lord’s commentary box has been unveiled as the Shane Warne Commentary Box, with Mike Atherton, Rob Key and Warne’s former agent Michael Cohen making it official.
“After Richie Benaud, I don’t think any Australian cricketer had such a warm and special relationship with an English audience,” said former England captain Atherton. “Shane loved playing in England, he loved playing on this ground, he commentated many years in our commentary box. The MCC have given us the honour of naming the commentary box after the great man.”
Shane Warne Commentary Box unveiled at Lord’s
Michael Cohen, Warne’s long-term English-based agent, said that “Shane was more than a sporting phenomenon to all of us. He was one of the kindest and best human beings we knew. And we all miss him very much.
“Lord’s was very important to Shane,” he continued. “His portrait painting by Fanny Rush is displayed in the pavilion here, and Shane had some of his greatest cricket successes playing for Australia here at Lord’s.”
Cohen went on to cut the ribbon to the Shane Warne Commentary Box, where Atherton then revealed a stunning tribute to the legendary leg-spinner on the back wall of the room.
Shane Warne’s incredible record at Lord’s
Warne took 19 wickets in four Test matches at Lord’s at an average of 19.58. He took 4/57 and 4/102 in his first Test on the ground in 1993, and ended his career having never lost a Test there (three wins, one draw).
His final series in England was a special one. The 2005 Ashes is remembered as one of the greatest series of all time, and Warne had a key role to play in the theatre. His 40 wickets and 249 runs weren’t quite enough to retain the Ashes for Australia, but he certainly gave them a chance in a series they were outplayed in.
