Cricket Legend Shane Warne passes away at 52

Australian cricket legend Shane Warne has passed away at the age of 52 years. The cricketer is suspected to have died of heart attack. 

Shane Warne’s management company confirmed in a brief statement that he passed away in Koh Samui, Thailand, of a suspected heart attack. "Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived,” the management said. 

Former Australian Cricketer Shane Warne dies of ‘suspected heart attack’, aged 52, says Fox Sports pic.twitter.com/cgocTvhLCC

— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2022

The former cricketer and broadcaster was reportedly on a break in Thailand. The news has come as the second devastating blow for Australian cricket as Warne passed away on the same day as fellow Australian cricket great Rod Marsh, who also died after suffering a major heart attack last week. Warne's last post was in fact a tribute to the cricket legend. 

Shane Warne wrote on his Twitter, "Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has passed. He was a legend of our great game & an inspiration to so many young boys &  girls. Rod cared deeply about cricket & gave so much-especially to Australia & England players. Sending lots & lots of love to Ros & the family. "

Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has passed. He was a legend of our great game & an inspiration to so many young boys & girls. Rod cared deeply about cricket & gave so much-especially to Australia & England players. Sending lots & lots of love to Ros & the family. RIP mate❤️

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 4, 2022

On February 28, Warne had tweeted, "Operation shred has started (10 days in) & the goal by July is to get back to this shape from a few years ago ! Let’s go." The cricket icon is survived by former wife Simone Callahan and three children. 

Several cricketers and celebrities took to Twitter to pay their condolences and express their shock over Warne's untimely demise. Some of the Tweets are listed below.   

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. pic.twitter.com/YtOkiBM53q

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 4, 2022

Unbelievable. I am shocked to the core. This can't be true...

Rest In Peace, @ShaneWarne. There are no words to describe what I feel right now. A huge loss for cricket. pic.twitter.com/uZdEdNz0x9

— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards) March 4, 2022

I am shocked and extremely sad to hear about the sudden death of my friend Warnie… he has always been in touch and always helpful.. apart from an iconic bowler he was a great entertainer… my condolences to the family and friends .. rest in peace my friend .

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) March 4, 2022

Shocked, stunned & miserable…

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! pic.twitter.com/219zIomwjB

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 4, 2022

No, it just can’t be…

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 4, 2022

💔 pic.twitter.com/eq48Smxugi

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 4, 2022

Sharne Warne: King of Spin

• Shane Warne was known as the King of Spin with a massive tally of 708 wickets in Test cricket, which is the most ever for an Australian and second in the world only after Muttiah Muralitharan, who broke his record on 3 December 2007.
• Warne played a total of 145 Tests and 194 ODIs between 1992 and 2007, taking 708 Test wickets and 293 wickets in ODIs. 
• He had debuted in Test against India on January 2, 1992 and in ODI against New Zealand on March 24, 1993.  His last test for the Australian side was against England on January 2, 2007 and last ODI was on January 10, 2005. 
• He had captained the Australian national team in One Day Internationals (ODI). He was the only player to have scored more than 3,000 Test runs without a career century.
• He was a significant part of the Indian Premier League, leading Rajasthan Royals to its fairy tale title win against Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 as their captain.  It was the only time the Royals lifted the title. He played in the first four seasons of IPL as captain and coach of Rajasthan Royals.
• He was appointed as the team mentor of Rajasthan Royals in February 2018. 
• Warne was a key player across all formats of the game, at a time when Australia was one of the greatest teams in the world and was able to maintain its dominance for sustained period in world cricket.  
• He was a part of the Australian cricket team that won the World Cup in 1999 and won five Ashes series between 1993 and 2003. 
• Warne was chosen as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Century in 2000 by a panel of experts. 
• He retired from international cricket in January 2007 at the end of Australia's 5-0 Ashes victory over England. Three other Australian players, who were integral to the team, retired at the time -Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer. This led some, including the then Australian captain Ricky Ponting to call it an end of an era. 
• Known fondly as 'Warnie', the cricketer maintained his popularity even after retiring from cricket as a commentator and expert. 
• He was named as a bowler in Australia's "greatest ever ODI team". He was named in the all-time Test World XI by Wisden to mark 150 years of the Cricketers' Almanack.
• Shane Warne was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013.