Everyone associated with Essex County Cricket Club and cricket across the globe are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Shane Warne.
Widely renowned as one of the greatest players to grace the game, Warne is the second-highest wicket-taker in Test history with 708 wickets in 145 matches.
Essex Cricket Chief Executive, John Stephenson worked alongside Shane Warne as the General Manager of the London Spirit in 2021 and paid tribute to a cricketing legend.
“I’m finding it difficult to comprehend the devastating news about Shane Warne. Warney was a cricket legend and a loyal and steadfast friend. I will miss him terribly.
”All this in the footsteps of the sad news of Rod Marsh. Rod was a true great as a cricketer and human being.
”My thoughts are with the families of both Shane and Rod at what is an incredibly difficult time for world cricket.”
John Stephenson & Shane Warne pictures alongside Ed Sheeran during The Hundred
Warne made his debut against Essex on April 19, 2000 when Hampshire, whom he played for between 2000 and 2007, visited Chelmsford in a B&H Cup South Group fixture.
Taking to the field alongside now Essex Cricket CEO, John Stephenson and against current Academy Director Barry Hyam, Warne went wicketless as Hampshire won by 5 wickets thanks to fifties from Adrian Aymes and Robin Smith.
When Essex visited Southampton three months later Warne’s immense talent shone through as he spun Hampshire to victory. He took 4/32 including the prize wicket of Nasser Hussain and earned himself the Player of the Match award.
Warne played a further eight games against Essex, appearing at Chelmsford for the final time in April 2007, nearly seven years to the day after the Essex faithful had their first glimpse of the greatest spin bowler of all time.
One man who needs no reminder of Warne’s abilities is Essex and England legend Graham Gooch, who he played against and faced during his stint as Head Coach of Essex in the early 2000s.
Gooch played in the game where Warne bowled the ‘ball of the century’ to remove Mike Gatting and famously remarked that Gatting “looked as though someone had just nicked his lunch”.
Warne’s impact in the game stretched far and wide. After retiring from International cricket at the end of the 2007 season he turned his hand to punditry where he struck up a partnership with former Essex and England captain Nasser Hussain as part of Sky Sport’s cricket coverage.
Warne went on to coach Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League and London Spirit in the Hundred. At London Spirit he coached Dan Lawrence, as well former Eagles, Ravi Bopara and Mohammad Amir.
