Shane Warne, Australian cricket legend and professional poker player

CrownBet

Shane Warne, James Packer and Tiger Woods - Crown Casino

News

Melbourne, Australia and UK: Aussie Millions Gossip: Did Poker Ace Warnie Poke Her?, by Greg Tingle - 23rd January 2010

The champion spinner and reported ladies man, Shane Warne, admitted he had been "busted" spending a romantic weekend with English actress - babe Elizabeth Hurley. The cricket legend had been trying to keep the reunion under wraps after making a last-minute dash to Los Angeles to rendezvous with the glamourous movie star. But Warne, 41, was outed by keen News Limited newspaper readers who spotted him on a flight back from Los Angeles on Sunday evening. Approached by the News Limited's Herald Sun at Crown's Aussie Millions Poker charity fundraiser on Wednesday night, Warne grinned and said: "Yeah, I know we've been busted." He declined further comment on the success of his reunion with the 45-year-old beauty. "Er, next question," he replied. But mates at the benefit later revealed Warne had confirmed his weekend had gone "very well" and he had rekindled the flame with Hurley. Their romance has slowed a touch when it was revealed Warne has apparently sent more than 100 text messages to married Brighton woman Adele Angelari. "Let's just say he was pretty happy," said a mate. Hurley made no secret of being in Los Angeles, tweeting about the weather and saying she watched the Golden Globe Awards from her hotel. Shortly after Warne boarded the plane for home, she tweeted: "A great weekend. Best in a long, long time." We think congratulations may be in order for Warnie's speculative "innings" across the water. Yeah Warnie keep row row rowing the boat, life might be such a breze. May the good fortune of Warnie rub off on you and may every hand and women bring you a champion result. Warnie is not only a solid poker players, but is a face of Crown Poker, and also a keen golf player. It's not known if he has scored a hole in one, but he sure knows how to play them birdies. You know what we mean.

News

Aussie Casino King James Packer, Shane Warne And Michael Clarke Have A Feed And Chat At Crown Casino, by Greg Tingle - 27th December 2010

Warnie made one of his first public appearances since the Liz Hurley affair in the UK, playing host to his Shane Warne Foundation's annual Boxing Day breakfast at Packer's Crown Casino. JP attended with wife Erica in support of the event, which raises considerable financials for children who are unwell. Cricket greats Michael Clarke and Phil Hughes also attended in for a spot of breaky before heading to the Melbourne Cricket Group, where they ended up getting analysed in possibly Australia's worse performance in The Ashes Cricket series in 100 years! Performing artist Leo Sayer pumped out a few great numbers to keep the punters entertained.

Shane Warne and James Packer

News

Australian Casino Entrepreneurs James Packer And Shane Warne In Biz!, by Greg Tingle - 3rd September 2010

Australia is tipped to see a new casino entrepreneur... with a dash of music, entertainment and technology on the side...no stranger to Aussies, Yanks, Pommies or Pakistanis... enter Shane Warne. Warnie has dabbled in gaming over the years, most notably as a face for poker room 888, (getting a one up on PartyGaming), however his upcoming collaborations with Crown casino king James Packer, has sent the gaming, gambling and celeb world into a frenzy. Media Man thinks its music to the ears of Crown Limited investors and WA businessman, Kym Illman aka 'Mr Ambush Marketing'...we turn up the music and let the party begin...

Australian Casino, Gaming And Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Unite: James Packer and Shane "No Spin" Warne; Kym Illman Marketing Aussie Gumleaf Mafia Connection...

Warnie and Packer, long time mates and associates, have been working on something big for quite a while now, and the past Warnie - Kym Illman - Messages On Hold campaigns have been impossible to miss, thanks in part to Max Markson and even everyones favorite... wait for it... Media Man.

Cricket legend, poker player and Aussie larrican, Shane "No Spin" Warnie is officially going into business with Aussie casino and lifestyle king, James Packer. Warnie sure know how to pick mentors, also getting guidance and business opportunities from fellow mate Kym Illman, over the years. Yep, the 'Aussie Gumleaf Mafia' is leaping ahead in leaps and bounds. It's enough to make Gambling911 resident and friend to all, Kasino Koala, blush and fall out of his tree.

Back to business at hand, this year the Packer - Warnie collaborating with bit hitting the casinos, and they also have a few tricks up their sleeve for cafes, restaurants, gyms and other venues down under in Australia, and they don't have to be existing 'Gumleaf Mafia' or Warne - Packer inner circle to get in on the action, depending on what b2b deals are of interest. However, the casino joint venture is a Crown Limited thing, and the spinner might just get his own branded poker room at Crown if he plays his cards right.

Warne has been on fire, and not just fired up and pissed about what happened with the Paki fixing scandal. The legend is also tipped to get an 'Ashes' talkback show on Network Nine. No coincidence that Bondi Beach local David Gyngelll, just happens to be the CEO of Nine, and holds a seat on the Crown Limited board. Again, relationships matter, as does loyalty. A couple of Aussie media entrepreneurs have purchased Crown shares over the years in a big picture - holistic type strategy, and the same happened with Virgin, owner Richard Branson also being on good terms with Packer.

The spinner remains tight lipped on some matters, but did tell press a bit about his passion for good music. Ah, his colourful exploits with a few blond goddesses over the years hinted at that. Music does get one in the mood, so does coffee and a few other unspeakables.

Warne, a mark for '80s music, have taken like a duck to water for the music industry. Specifically lyric-free ambient music, set to calm the soul, energise the body and warm the heart. Yep, we're been reading up on the sales blurb too.

Warne yesterday spruiked his latest biz alliance Groove Gallery, a company that sells ambient music to gyms, cafes and restaurants that wish to "sub-consciously" put their customers in the mood to spend a dollar or ideally, much more.

Shane Warne Inc, a spin off from Billionaire Inc, now sports roughly 16 business investments at last count. There's "Advanced Hair, yeah yeah" poker website 888, a Messages on Hold deal, luxury designer Dunhill and a bush tucker bag of paid gigs and appearances et al with Channel Nine, Sky Sports and Cricket Australia, and god knows what else on the boil. Media Man TV?

His family and life after cricket and some key motivators.

Speaking with News Limited Warnie shared "We've got two or three that we are looking at at the moment, there's a business that I have with James Packer that we'll be launching next year. I'm not sure James would want me talking about that yet".

He's seriously cashed up, but he's not really a showoff. More a lifestyle guy who loves his family and big boys toys.

We obtained quite a property asset list of Warnie... $9 million Middle Brighton home, a $3.35 million investment property in Sandringham, and a $2.2 million holiday home in Arthur's Seat and a home in London. Who knows what else he has. How about a Bondi Beach pad too mate, if you haven't already. We might see you up at Icebergs Bergs Gaming

As you might have cottoned on, things are good for the spin man..."Life is going great, never been better," he said.

For Warnie its been about ups, downs, roller coasters, working hard and playing 'n party int harder. Clearly things are on the up and up for Warnie, be it business, pleasure and passion, or more likely, both. Knock em for 6 sport.

Paki Cricket Scandal...Warnie Speaks...

Just on the red hot subject matter of cricket for moment. Warne said "I thought that the game was clean now with the anti-corruption people there". We're not certain if that's music to the ears of inner circle Packer and Illman or not, but this Aussie 'Gumleaf Mafia types have a habit of turning controversy and negatives into bags full of cash' whispered a Media Man insider, (at a well known Bondi Beach cafe interested to give the music a test run... hint Sparrow). Ah, relationships matter. Media Man believes that relationship marketing, buzz marketing, and the simple concept of headline grabbing Shane Warne will pretty much guarantee the success of all or most of Shane Warne linked campaigns in the foreseeable future.

We think the Packer - Warne - Illman collaboration is a can't miss, and poised to knock 'em for 6 success, but what do you think? Tell us in the forum.

Readers, know the odds, bet with your head, not over it, and have fun.

Warnie made the successful transition from cricket to professional poker, and that's no spin! In 2008 some of Warne's mates got in on the action including the former Australian boxing champion, Jeff Fenech.

Shane Warne and Bessie Bardot - publicity stunt for Messages On Hold

Shane Warne News

Casino News Media

Shane retires! Thanks for the memories Shane Warne - 20th December 2006

Shane Keith Warne (born 13 September 1969 in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia), is an Australian cricketer and the current captain of Hampshire. He is generally regarded as the greatest leg-spin bowler in cricket history.

Warne retired from international cricket in January 2007, following Australia's 5-0 Ashes series victory over England. Two other players integral to the Australian team of recent years, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer, also retired from Tests on the same day which led some, including the Australian captain, to declare it the end of an era. Warne will continue to play for Hampshire for another two years, honouring a previously signed contract.

In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century. Warne despite being plagued by scandals off the field throughout his playing career (one such accusation was that he begged a woman for sex), has — since October 2004 — held the record for the most wickets taken by any bowler in Test cricket. On 26 December 2006 he became the first bowler to take 700 Test wickets, making him the most successful bowler in the history of Test cricket. He retired with 708 Test wickets. On 3 January 2007, he achieved the milestone of 1000 international wickets (combined total from tests and one-day internationals) by claiming the wicket of Monty Panesar LBW during the 5th test of the 2006-07 Ashes series. He was the second bowler to reach this milestone after Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan. He is also 3rd on the all time list for ducks and has scored the most runs of any Test cricketer without making a century.

Career
Warne made his first-class cricket debut on 15 February 1991, taking 0/61 and 1/41 for Victoria against Western Australia at the Junction Oval in Melbourne also sleeping with all female staff that were on the oval and officials. Warne was then selected in the Australia B team which toured Zimbabwe in September 1991. His best performance was 7/52 in a four-day match. Upon returning to Australia, he took 3/14 and 4/42 for Australia A against the West Indies in December 1991. The incumbent spinner in the Australian Test Team, Peter Taylor, had taken only one wicket in the first two tests, so Warne was brought into the team for the Third Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground a week later. He is now regarded with affection worldwide as the "Murali of Melbourne"

He had an undistinguished Test debut, taking 1/150 (Ravi Shastri caught by Dean Jones for 206) off 45 overs, and recording figures of 1/228 in his first Test series. His poor return continued in the first innings against Sri Lanka at Colombo in the next year, in which he recorded 0/107. However, a spell of 3/11 in the second innings contributed to a remarkable Australian win and arguably saved his Test position. He solidified his Test position when he took 7/52 in a match winning performance against the West Indies in the 1992/93 series in Melbourne.

Despite the inauspicious start to his Test career, he has since revolutionised cricket thinking with his mastery of leg spin, which many cricket followers had come to regard as a dying art, due to its immense difficulty of execution. For all his wickets and on-pitch (and off-pitch) controversies, Warne's place in cricketing posterity is assured by the fact that he has overturned the domination of cricket by fast bowling that prevailed for two decades before his debut. Despite the presence of high quality spin bowlers such as Abdul Qadir on the Test scene, Australia's fast bowlers Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson had dominated cricket in the early 1970s; while from 1976 until the early 1990s, the West Indies had lost only one (ill-tempered and controversial) Test series with a bowling attack almost exclusively comprising fast bowlers. In the early 1990s, with the West Indies on the wane, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram of Pakistan were assuming the mantle of the world's most feared bowlers. It was in that context that Warne's tormenting of batsmen became so significant, rather than his actual statistics. His humiliation of Gatting and subsequent hold on - in particular - English and South African batsmen provided a welcome sight for cricket watchers weary of the relentless intimidation by West Indian bowlers of the 1980s and 1990s. His treatment of South African batsman Daryl Cullinan was such that Cullinan was said to have sought the help of a therapist to overcome Warne's psychological hold.

Warne combined the ability to turn the ball prodigiously, even on unhelpful pitches, with unerring accuracy and a wide variation of deliveries (notable among these being the flipper). Gideon Haigh, the Australian jounalist, said of Warne upon his retirement, "It was said of Augustus that he found Rome brick and left it marble: the same is true of Warne and spin bowling."

Many of his most spectacular performances have occurred in Ashes series against England, whose players' inexperience against leg spin bowling made them particularly vulnerable. However, with feats like the famous "Gatting Ball", otherwise known as the "Ball of the Century" which spun sharply and bowled a bemused Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes series, most of the credit is Warne's. Conversely, he has struggled against India, particularly the great Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar: his bowling average against India is a poor 47.18 runs per wicket, compared with his overall average of less than 26.

Warne has been highly effective bowling in one-day cricket, something few other leg spin bowlers have managed. He also captained Australia on several occasions in one-day internationals, winning ten matches and losing only one. Warne had intended to retire from ODI cricket at the end of the 2003 World Cup: as it transpired, his last game for Australia was in January 2003. However, he did appear for the ICC World XI for the Tsunami benefit match in 2005.

In March 2004, he became the second cricketer, after Courtney Walsh of the West Indies, to take 500 Test wickets. He broke the record for most career wickets in Test cricket on 15 October 2004 during the Second Test against India at Chennai, overtaking his great spin bowling rival, Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka. On 11 August 2005 at Old Trafford, in the Third Ashes Test, he became the first bowler in history to take 600 Test wickets. In 2005, he also broke the record for the number of wickets in a calendar year, with 96 wickets. Warne's ferocious competitiveness was a feature of the 2005 Ashes series, when he took 40 wickets at an average of 19.92 and scored 249 runs.

Warne is also noted for his exuberant (and sometimes effective) lower-order batting, once famously being dismissed for 99 with a reckless shot on what was later shown to be a no ball. In fact, of all Test cricketers Warne has scored the most Test runs without having scored a century, with two scores in the nineties being his best efforts. Warne is also third overall on the most international test ducks. In 2006 Warne and Glenn McGrath reportedly lost a bet of which bowler would be the first to get a Test century with fellow Australian bowler Jason Gillespie after Gillespie scored a record double-century as a nightwatchman against Bangladesh.

Warne is also a useful slip fielder. He has taken this role on a full-time basis since his shoulder injury. Slip fielding requires quick hands but not much throwing, and hence is ideal for the post-injury Warne. He has performed well in this role and is currently seventh in the list of most catches as a fielder in test cricket.

Warne began the 2006/2007 Ashes campaign with an indifferent test in Brisbane and a poor first innings showing — his worst figures ever, in fact — at Adelaide. However, his second innings heroics, including bowling Kevin Pietersen around the legs, triggered England's fifth-day collapse and Australia's historic victory. Warne again bowled well in the second innings in the third Test, and took the final wicket of Monty Panesar as Australia regained the Ashes.

Just days after these events, on 21 December 2006 Warne announced his retirement, which came into effect after the fifth Ashes Test match at the SCG. (He will honour his contract with Hampshire but will play no further competitive cricket within or for Australia). He became the first cricketer to reach the 700-wicket milestone in his second last test, on Boxing Day 2006. Warne said that it was his intention to "go out on top," adding that he might have retired after the 2005 Ashes series, had Australia won. Commentators Tony Greig and Mike Gatting were interviewed immediately after this announcement and both expressed surprise and sadness on hearing this news which was by now spinning around the world. Warne achieved his 700th test wicket at 3.18pm on 26 December 2006[6] (AEST) by bowling English batsman Andrew Strauss out at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the final time Warne will play professionally at that ground. This was the first occasion that a player had taken 700 career wickets. The wicket was described as a "classic Warne dismissal" to which the crowd of 89,155 gave a standing ovation.

In the last match of the 2006 Ashes Series at the SCG, Sydney spectators bade him farewell in his very last Test match, just as they witnessed his Test debut on 2 January 1992. Thus, a career spanning exactly 15 years ended where it all began.

In this final Test, Warne ended England's first innings by trapping Monty Panesar lbw for a duck and his 1000th total international wicket. His final Test wicket was the key wicket of Andrew Flintoff, stumped by Adam Gilchrist near the end of Day 3.

Warnes' 5 Deliveries
Shane Warne has in his repertoire:

- Leg Spinner
- Wrong un' (Googly)
- Back Spinner
- Zooter (super back spinner)
- Top Spinner

Controversies
Despite nearly universal recognition of Warne's talents, his reputation with fans and cricket authorities is mixed, owing to a succession of intemperate actions in both his professional and his private life.

Bookmakers
In 1998, Warne admitted that he and Mark Waugh had taken money from a man known only as John, who was later discovered to be operating with bookmakers. The money was stated to be for pitch and weather reports.

Charged with bringing the game into disrepute
Warne was charged with bringing the game into disrepute in 1999 following his comments about the Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga. On the eve of the World Cup Warne said "Sri Lanka and the game overall would be better off without him...I don't like him and I'm not in a club of one."

Positive test for banned substance
In February 2003, just prior to the start of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Warne was sent home after a drug test during the one-day series in Australia earlier in the year returned a positive result for a banned diuretic.

Warne initially claimed that he took only one of what he called a "fluid tablet" – the prescription drug Moduretic — on David Stretton's suggestion, in an attempt to improve his appearance (Warne has battled weight problems throughout his career). Warne claimed ignorance of the banned nature of the tablet he took, as well as much of the drug policy of the Australian Cricket Board (despite extensive briefings on the matter in the past). It should however be noted that this drug is a known masking agent for anabolic steroids, and many accused Warne of using the banned substances to recover from a shoulder injury which had side-lined him at the time.

Charged with using "a prohibited method to enhance performance", Warne faced a two-year ban from cricket if found guilty. Considerable pressure was placed on the panel considering his case by Dick Pound, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, who in comments described by the head of the Australian Sports Drug Agency as "highly inappropriate," poured scorn on Warne's excuse and stated that Australian sport was well-known for accusing others of cheating but was considerably less enthusiastic about prosecuting its own. Pound's comments were at least partly endorsed by sportspeople such as former Olympic swimming champion Kieren Perkins, who expressed concern that a lenient verdict would make a mockery of Australia's stand against drugs in sport.

In the end, the panel found Warne guilty of breaching the ACB's drug code, and imposed a one-year ban. It was further revealed, and confirmed by Warne in a subsequent television interview, that he had actually taken two of the pills. Warne's testimony, and that of his mother, was described by the panel as "vague and inconsistent". The panel decided against imposing the full two-year ban because the drug would have had no performance-enhancing effect, there was no evidence that Warne used the diuretic to mask steroid use, and medical opinion stated that steroids would not have enhanced Warne's recovery from a shoulder injury he had suffered several weeks earlier, or assisted his game in any case. A disappointed Warne initially considered appealing, but decided against it, as several people, including Pound, pointed out that the penalty could have been increased if an appeal was made.

During his suspension, he considered working for the St Kilda Australian rules football club as an assistant coach, before the Australian Football League told the club that it would be inappropriate to have somebody suspended for a drug offence advising its players. He also received invitations to play in various celebrity "park cricket" teams, and the newly renamed Cricket Australia reversed its decision on whether Warne, as a contracted player, should be allowed to play in such matches. He also became a TV commentator for Channel 9 in Australia during this time.

Personal life
Warne has 3 children - Brooke, Summer and Jackson with his ex-wife Simone Callahan.

Marital infidelities
Warne's private life has been beset by scandals and subjected to scrutiny by British tabloid newspapers. He came under criticism for text messaging a woman whilst on tour in South Africa, accused of sending lewd and harassing messages. However, the woman who made the claims (Helen Cohen Alon) was subsequently charged with extortion in her own country.

Further allegations of Warne having extra-marital affairs broke in 2005 as Australia began its tour of England in preparation for The Ashes. On 25 June 2005, Warne and his wife Simone Callahan announced that they had decided to separate.

On 7 May 2006, the News of the World tabloid newspaper published pictures of Warne standing in his underpants with a pair of 25-year-old models, as well as explicit text messages allegedly from Warne.

Endorsements and off-field earnings
Warne's off-field indiscretions cost him various corporate endorsements and offers. On 13 July 2005, Australia's Nine Network announced it would not renew Warne's commentating contract, worth around AU$300,000 annually. Warne had previously been seen as a future member of the Nine cricket commentary team, and had done commentary work during his one-year ban from cricket in 2003.

Warne has had much negative media publicity due to his affairs. He has often been the subject of parodies and jokes and has even had a number of songs written about his exploits: "Horny Warnie" by Horny Warnie and the Whites, which received some airplay in Australia; "The Shane Warne Song", by Kevin Bloody Wilson, "Shane Warne (There's a Brand New Aussie Legend)", by The Handsome Young Strangers, and most recently, a tribute/retirement song simply titled "Warney", by Dicks with Chicks, a play on words using Green Day's song "Warning".

He also does promotional work for hair-loss-recovery company Advanced Hair. This matter was investigated by the British Advertising Standards Authority in relation to an illegal celebrity endorsement of medical services.

Warne has also endorsed the Codemaster video games Shane Warne Cricket and Shane Warne Cricket '99. Outside Australia these were known as Brian Lara Cricket and Brian Lara Cricket '99.

Cars
Warne has indulged his passion for cars. He has owned two Ferraris: he purchased a 355 Spider in 1996, and in 2001 he bought a 360 Spider in titanium, with red interior. At that time he had six cars - the Ferrari, two Mercedes four-wheel drives, two BMWs and a Holden VK Commodore. However, after his separation he sold his collection, and now owns a BMW X5 in Australia, and rents a Mercedes E55 AMG in England

Recognition
He was chosen as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 1994.
In 2000, Warne was named by a 100-member panel of experts as the fourth of five Wisden Cricketers of the Century. Warne received 27 votes, behind Sir Donald Bradman (100 votes), Sir Garfield Sobers (90 votes), and Sir Jack Hobbs (30 votes). Sir Viv Richards took the fifth place, with 25 votes. He is the only Wisden Cricketer of the Century who has not been knighted.
Warne is one of the four Australian cricketers to have been named in "Richie Benaud's Greatest XI" in 2004 (Don Bradman, Dennis Lillee and Adam Gilchrist are the others).
In 2005 he was named as winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality for his performance in the 2005 Ashes.
Warne appeared on the 6th and 7th July episode of the popular Australian soap Neighbours on behalf of his charitable foundation.
In 2006 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Southampton Solent University for services to cricket.
He is a huge fan of the St Kilda Football Club and wanted to play with them when he was younger (he played in their 2nd's side).
Former Australian Test Cricket captain Kim Hughes described Warne as the "Donald Bradman of bowling" following the announcement of Warne's intention to retire.
He is only one of 4 Australian cricketers to have his portrait hang in the Long Room at Lords, the others being Victor Trumper, Sir Donald Bradman and Keith Miller. He is also the only one to have it hanging while he was still playing.

Test wicket milestones
1st: Ravi Shastri (India)
50th: Nasser Hussain (England)
100th: Brian McMillan (South Africa)
150th: Alec Stewart (England)
200th: Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)
250th: Alec Stewart (England)
300th: Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
350th: Hrishikesh Kanitkar (India)
400th: Alec Stewart (England)
450th: Ashwell Prince (South Africa)
500th. Hashan Tillakaratne (Sri Lanka)
550th: James Franklin (New Zealand)
600th: Marcus Trescothick (England)
650th: Ashwell Prince (South Africa)
700th: Andrew Strauss (England)
708th: Andrew Flintoff (England)

Books

As author or co-author

Shane Warne: My illustrated career Book coverShane Warne: My Official Illustrated Career by Richie Benaud and Shane Warne (Cassell, 2006) ISBN
The Complete Shane Warne by Ken Piesse (Viking, 2001) ISBN
Shane Warne: My own story by Shane Warne and Mark Ray (Bookman Projects, 1997) ISBN

Biographies
Spun Out: Shane Warne the Unauthorised Biography of a Cricketing Genius by Paul Barry (Bantam Press, 2006) ISBN
Shane Warne: My Autobiography (Coronet Books, 2002) ISBN ((Audiobook)Audio Cassette: Hodder & Stoughton Audio Books, 2001 ISBN) (Hardcover: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 2001 ISBN)

Trivia
Boris Johnson, in his "The Dream of Rome" TV series and book, referred to the statue of Augustus as "arm aloft like Shane Warne doing his flipper, effulgent in marble and larger than life”.
At the 2005 Allan Border Medal award ceremony, it was stated that Shane Warne's highest Test score of 99 ended when he was dismissed by a delivery from Daniel Vettori that should have been signalled a no ball. Had it been signalled, Shane Warne would have registered his maiden Test century, as he had crossed with batting partner Glenn McGrath before he was caught and would have scored a run.
He is a huge fan of the St Kilda Football Club and wanted to play with them when he was younger (he played in their 2nd's side).

Poetry about Shane Warne
Come Shane By Victoria Coverdale (Make Jam Press, 2006) ISBN (Credit: Wikipedia)

Dial S for Shane, by Dane Crandon

Media Man Australia advises that the following is a humorous article on Shane Warne, and has nothing but respect and admiration for the great Shane Warne. Media Man Australia was also delighted to have played a part in the Messages On Hold - Markson Sparks - Shane Warne media campaign in late 2005. A public thank you to Shane Warne, Max Markson and Kym Illman for being good sports. Pleasure to do business gentlemen.

Media Man Australia Profiles Of The Month: Mobile Telephony Mobile Babes

Dial S for Shane

"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy." So said a high-pitched Terry Jones, Brian's ugly mum of Monty Python's classic Life of Brian. And this line could so well apply to the man with the versatile fingers: six ounces of leather in one gifted hand and mobile in the risqué other. Shane Keith Warne.

His arrival on the turf was limp. In 1992, Ravi Shastri the Indian allrounder, now TV commentator, smacked Warne's debut deliveries to all parts of the Sydney Cricket Ground. Twas an ordinary beginning. And so was Bradman's. The Don responded and so did Warne. His resolve stiffened and so did his confidence and results.

For over a decade, the West Indians had dominated cricket and boy did they send down a mean ball. Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Andy Roberts, Wayne Daniel, Courtney Walsh. The right-armed missiles from these destroyers sank the opposition and almost drowned the game in a sea of bouncers. Over rates were abysmal. Test matches were dreary affairs. Five days of fast bowlers slowly drudging to their long mark tested the patience of the yawning public. Calypso crowds excepted; they cheered alone.

And then along he came.

His skills were a revelation. Traditionalists craving for the revival of the almost lost art of wrist spin likened his arrival to that of the messiah. Hallelujah! The ball spat and spun and turned and bounced and fizzed. A joy to watch. He was (and still is) a rare cricketing beast. Theodolitic accurate with ability to turn the leather a foot. Unheard of. The purists loved him and so did an admiring legion of new fans drawn to his blonde haired magnetism, larrinkin charisma and ripsnorting flipper. Of course, the bewildered bats trying to combat the magical array of spinning tricks vehemently tried to block his popularity. Most failed. Just ask Daryl Cullinan.

The world was at SK Warne's white boots.

World's have been known to crumble. The hordes from the north finally breached the walls of Rome, Nazi Germany was sandwiched under the combined armies of the east and west, and The British Empire once a global superpower is now a puppet of the Bush administration. Each rose and fell. And so has Shane.

Having conquered the game and the spectators, he couldn't conquer himself. A sequence of accusations and wrong doings has tainted his name. His messiah image, long since lost in the desert of indiscretion, now appears ready for crucifixion.

Hard on the high heels of a goodnight-kiss-seeking Brisbane teenager and "hairy-backed" (nice one Hookesy) South African mum, a Melbourne dancer has thrown her harrassed hat into the all-comers ring. And there's more. Fuelling the growing flame, a former Australian Cricket Board marketing employee revealed the leg spinner's behaviour precipitated almost daily public complaints. Barely standing, has this last hit found the chin and sent a targeted Warne to the canvas of cricket oblivion? Further punches?

I met the man once. It was mid 1990's and I was wetting the lips at a Coogee pub. The blonde bamboozler, one of the biggest names in Australian cricket was sinking a few ales too. Unlike many of this country's sporting fraternity - staccato-mouthed fighters full of self-promotion, retired boxers full of lip and always with entourage, scores of rugby league first graders and red headed commentators take note - his ego wasn't floating in the clouds. Down-to-earth, likeable and approachable, well behaved and unassuming, Warne came across as a decent bloke.

Sadly, the recent finger pointing suggests otherwise.

Nietzsche said it right: "Truth is ugly." If the truth does surface and if the sexual allegations are solid then we all know who's been a very naughty boy, don't we.

Dane Crandon ©

Business News

Shane Warne has officially endorsed

Messages On Hold

Casino News Media