Shane Warne: Latest news and tributes as Australian cricket legend’s death not treated as suspicious

Sir Andrew Strauss - the former England captain and current England interim managing director - has called Shane Warne the “greatest showman” and said nobody did more to grow the game of cricket.

“He literally was the greatest showman,” he told BBC Five Live.

“There were other great cricketers, who when you look at their record would potentially equal Shane’s or maybe even better them but there was no greater star in cricket than Shane Warne.

“His contribution to the game of cricket is unmatched and unrivalled, I think. We should all be happy and proud to have played against him and watched him in action because no one grew the sport the way he did.

“It is just so hard to believe he is not with us anymore. He was one of those characters who had so much vibrancy and energy about him, you never thought his time was anywhere near up.”

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson has added to the ever-growing list of tributes following the untimely death of Shane Warne.

Alongside a picture of the pair of them laughing together at a children’s cricket session, the Prime Minister tweeted: “Totally shocked and saddened to hear about Shane Warne - a cricketing genius and one of the nicest guys you could meet, who also did a lot to help disadvantaged kids into sport.”

England captain Joe Root has added to the tributes to Shane Warne, explaining that the leg-spinner was a “massive idol” of his growing up and describing the Australia great as somebody who “absolutely loved the game of cricket.”

Speaking from the West Indies where England are on tour, Root said: “Really shocked and really sad to hear such a legend of the game passed so suddenly.

“We had just started the game (against a CWI President’s XI in Antigua) and it filtered through the dressing room. It’s been quite a quiet dressing room off the back of it. It’s hit everyone quite hard if I’m being brutally honest.”

He added: “My experiences of Shane were of someone who absolutely loved the game of cricket. He was always a joy to be around, he gave so much energy to the sport.

“As a kid growing up he was a massive idol of mine and someone you wanted to emulate. The way he could win a game on his own, his skill levels were incredible.

“I’d have been 14 when the 2005 Ashes was on, in many ways that series was a massive influence on my career.”

Australia is in a “state of shock” after the sudden death of cricket legend Shane Warne, who has passed away at the age of 52 following a suspected heart attack.

Warne, one of the country’s greatest sporting stars and regarded among the finest spin bowlers of all time, died after he was found unresponsive while in Thailand, a statement from his management company said.

“Australian cricket, along with the whole cricketing world, is in a state of shock at the loss of Shane Warne, a true cricketing genius, who has died aged 52,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.

Australia men’s captain Pat Cummins said his team, who are in Pakistan ahead this month’s test series, have been “numbed” by the news of Warne’s death.

“The game of cricket was never the same after Shane emerged, and it will never be the same now he has gone,” Cummins said. “Rest in peace King.”

Shane Warne’s cricketing career was dotted with pieces of genius, as one of the most gifted spin bowlers to ever don a pair of whites invariably picked the most high-profile moments to deliver for Australia.

From the ‘Ball of the Century’ that bamboozled Mike Gatting and launched his career to an MCG hat-trick, World Cup success and a perfect Ashes swansong, Warne was never far away from the spotlight.

After a career that dazzled and enthralled, we look back at some of Warne’s most memorable moments.

The England men’s cricket team led the tributes pouring in for Australia great Shane Warne, after he died aged 52 following a suspected heart attack.

Leg-spinner Warne – whose 708 Test wickets has only been surpassed by contemporary rival and fellow spinner Muttiah Muralitharan – could not be revived after being found unresponsive in his Thailand villa.

England are currently in the Caribbean, preparing for a three-Test series against the West Indies and ahead of the final day of their warm-up against a Cricket West Indies President’s XI, the players and umpires stood in the middle for a minute’s silence in honour of Warne.

Former Australia spinner Shane Warne has died aged 52, his management company has confirmed.

Warne was on the popular tourist island of Koh Samui when he was found. Local medics attended the scene but could not save him.

“It is with great sadness we advise that Shane Keith Warne passed away of a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand today, Friday 4 March,” a statement from his management company MPC Entertainment read. “Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived. The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”

Warne ranks second behind only fellow spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the all-time list of leading Test wicket-takers and you can read more of the statistics from his stunning career in the piece below.

Shane Warne was a cricket icon but such was his raw charisma and instantly-recognisable look, he transcended the sport during his life.

The Australian cricket legend died of a suspected heart attack aged just 52 while in Koh Samui, Thailand, and could not be revived after he was found unresponsive in his Thailand villa.

Thai police have now released two further bits of information. They have confirmed that they are not treating the death as a suspicious and have also stated that he was found by associates staying in the same villa as Warne, who unsuccessfully tried to revive him.

Following news of his death, fellow celebrities rushed to pay tribute on social media.

Australia’s men’s Test side are currently on an historic tour to Pakistan and captain Pat Cummins has given his reaction to the news of Shane Warne’s death.

“We are all numbed by the news,” he told reporters in Pakistan. “Apart from the wickets he took and the games he helped Australia win, what he did was draw so many people to the sport. So many of us in the playing group grew up idolising him and fell in love with this great sport as a result, while many of our support staff either played with him or against him.”

Cummins also tweeted his condolences upon first hearing of Warne’s death.

Instantly recognisable and one of the most charismatic figures to ever grace the sport of cricket, there are plenty of images that capture the magic of Shane Warne.

One of the finest bowlers of all time, who revived the art of leg spin, has died aged 52 following a suspected heart attack. The Victoria-born spinner enjoyed a colourful life both on and off the cricket field.

Here is a tribute to the Australian leg-spin legend’s life and career in pictures.