Ashes Flashbacks #2: Shane Warne

Grimmett in 1937.
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On 4th June 1993, Shane Warne changed the English cricketing mentality with that one delivery.  We all know the story.  Mike Gatting was England’s best player of spin bowling.  He would send the young upstart packing, and England were well in pursuit of Australia’s 1st innings 289.  Except he didn’t.

For the next 10 years, we felt that the mere sight of Shane Warne marking out his run meant the beginning of the end for the England innings, whether they had 1 or 10 wickets intact.

He above any other of the recent Australian greats – McGrath, Steve Waugh, Gilchrist – had the snakes inside English heads hissing like a cobra on steroids.

All of this was with good cause, for Warne was perhaps the greatest spin bowler the world has ever seen.  Certainly, he was the spin bowler who was great for longest.

But, don’t worry, England batsmen.  That scary man can’t hurt you anymore.  Australia’s latest spin bowler’s best efforts were recently bludgeoned halfway round Africa by the Proteas, and the other pretenders to the throne have not exactly set the world alight either.

Here are some other facts that show us why a Warnealike is not going to happen in the near future:

  1. Warne had defined a new era in cricket at the age of 24.  Clarrie Grimmett, Australia’s previous “best ever” didn’t play in tests until he was 33.  Leg spinners usually take much longer to develop than Warne did.
  2. Grimmett wasn’t even Australian, unless you count Dunedin as a remote outpost of Victoria.
  3. Warne was only the 2nd Australian legspinner since World War II to take 200 test wickets.  The 1st was Richie Benaud, who retired before Warne was born.
  4. Stuart MacGill became the 3rd in 2007.  Australia have used up their complement for the next few decades.
  5. Not even England are that unlucky

So, England batsmen, when you see an Australian spinner limbering up this summer, the correct positive thought is not

Aha, a mighty sorcerer.  Perchance I shall soon be able to acquaint myself with the results from Chepstow.

but rather

Aha, a feeble twirler.  Verily I shall deposit his tripe into the next borough without delay as I have my merry way with him.

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