20th December, 2006 | Back to Shane Warne Index

 

FORMER Australian captain Allan Border last night said Shane Warne deserved to be the second greatest cricketer ever behind Don Bradman. Daily Telegraph Aus

 

In a glowing tribute to his former teammate, Border, who was shocked by the news of Warne's impending retirement, said the leg-spinner had been an ornament to the sport.

 

"Bradman, it's hard to make comparisons to that guy's record, but certainly the next level of cricketers, Warne is right there," Border said. "He has been a breath of fresh air for the game.

 

"What he has done for the game is immeasurable really.

 

"The fact that he revived that dying art of leg-spinning bowling and just the way he has gone about his cricket, it's just been exciting when Shane Warne was involved."

 

Border was Warne's first captain when the Victorian debuted for Australia against India in 1991-92.

"Not many of us in the team had seen Shane bowl a ball," he said.

 

"He had been through the academy and got 1-150 in his first Test match.

 

"But there was something special about him right from the word go.

 

"We just knew there was something about this kid who turned up to bowl leg-spin.

"You wouldn't have thought he would have 698 wickets later.

 

"We knew there was something special and what a career he has had to date."

 

Border had thought Warne was in good enough form and fitness to play on and perhaps finish his career after the 2009 Ashes tour of England.

 

"He is in superb touch," he said. "Physically he is in great touch. I had an inkling he had one more shot at England in England.

 

"I am in state of shock really. It would be a massive shock if he retires from the game."

 

Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson had hoped cricket's greatest wicket-taker would play on.

 

"Australia would not have won in Adelaide and in Perth had this guy not been playing," he said.

 

"I thought he still might have another three or four years in the game."

 

Former national selection chairman Trevor Hohns said he luxuriated in the fact that his panel was fortunate enough to have two

 

freakish campaigners in Warne and Glenn McGrath to anchor the side and they would be sorely missed.

 

"They were just fabulous people to deal with. We were very lucky to have them both in the side at the same time," Hohns said.

 

"It is a sad day but it is also great that they have made the decision themselves and have not risked staying on too long. It was a pleasure to deal with both of them."

 

Ian Chappell, leading batsman and Australian Test captain of the 1970s, said the timing was right for both Warne and McGrath to retire.

 

"I'm delighted for both of them that they are calling it a day at the end of this series," Chappell said.

 

"I think it's perfect timing for a champion player . . . if you make a mistake it's best to get out a little early than a a little late."

National selector David Boon said the first he heard of Warne's possible retirement came when journalists began inundating him with calls last night.

 

"I haven't heard anything official yet from Cricket Australia and people have been ringing me non-stop," Boon said.

 

"My take on it is that, until he does it officially, I can't pass comment because I don't know the facts."

 

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