The years 1992 to 2007, which span the Test career of Shane Warne, were wonderful ones for Australian cricket fans for a variety of reasons.
The chance to watch the revival of the great art of leg spin bowling was one, of course: the sustained success of the Australian team as a whole over that period was another.
But perhaps the greatest pleasure of the years during which Shane Warne was bowling on the world stage was the fact that while he was doing so, he wasn’t giving his opinion on every single subject that arose.
Do you remember those days, cricket lovers? The days when it was actually possible to pick up a newspaper or look at a news site without seeing what Shane Warne thought about absolutely everything?
Young people today must scarcely be able to believe it, but it’s true: there was once a time when a man could become a professional cricketer in Australia without Shane Warne telling the entire world what he thought about him.
Is it too much to call these halcyon days?
I don’t think so.
Warney seems to be having his say a lot recently (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
Of course, things haven’t changed that much. In many ways, the world is the same as it was back in the ’90s. For example, nobody cared what Shane Warne thought about anything back then, and nobody cares what Shane Warne thinks about anything now, either: the only difference is that now we have to hear about it anyway.
I realise, of course, that Warne is an Australian legend, whose long and celebrated playing career means he occupies a particularly lofty position in the sporting pantheon. As such, a certain amount of deference is inevitable, and it’s only natural that from time to time we should be exposed to his views on the modern game.
But it’s the sheer volume of the takes constantly spewing from Warne like lava from a shiny over-tanned volcano that is exhausting. There is no other former great with such an insatiable appetite for shoving his oar in.
We occasionally hear from Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor or Allan Border. For many years, it was an annual tradition for Neil Harvey to emerge from his lair to declare everyone and everything in the current era to be garbage that Don Bradman would never have tolerated. And we accepted Neil’s choleric interjections with goodwill, because as angry and bitter as he seemed, at least he wasn’t doing it every freaking day.
Warne, on the other hand, is addicted to a hectic lifestyle of disgorging his opinions 24/7. If there’s a sports page in Australia without a story about What Warnie Reckons, I’ve not seen it lately.
Shane Wants Paine Out. Shane Wants Inglis In. Shane Backs Cummins. Shane Wants Smith Out. Shane Wants Smith In But Not As Vice-Captain. Shane Wants Marsh In And To Be Vice-Captain. Shane Also Wants Warner To Be Vice-Captain Apparently. Shane Hates Mitchell Starc’s Guts For Reasons We Haven’t Quite Figured Out Yet But We’ll Keep You Updated.
If there is an issue, Shane has something to say about it. If there is an Australian cricketer, Shane can tell you how he rates him. If there is a microphone within a six-kilometre radius, Shane can sniff it out and bark into it.
What’s more, what he’s barking into it will never be worth hearing. You’ll never hear scathing wit or original thought from Warne. Just “he’s grouse” and “he sucks” and “I don’t understand” and “Steve Waugh was the most selfish cricketer I ever played with”.
Of course, it’s not really Shane Warne’s fault. He’s just doing what comes naturally. You can no more blame Warne for ceaselessly flapping his gums than you can blame the larvae of the spider wasp for slowly eating a tarantula alive. You gotta do what you gotta do.
No, it’s our fault. The Australian media, and the Australian public, must bear the blame for the enabling of Australian sport’s biggest and least insightful mouth. We keep listening and we keep reporting and we keep a Shane Warne-shaped hole in the cultural landscape ever-ready for him to fill.
To put it simply, we are addicted to Warnie, and we really need to break that habit. Time to go cold turkey, as the man himself might text to a glamour model he met half an hour ago.
Because when we actually examine what Shane Warne says, and what we get out of it, we might be amazed to discover that… we never really knew why we were listening in the first place.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I agree. They took Siddle as an England specialist last Ashes but he's effectively done now, as is Patto. Neser and Richardson could potentially be like for like replacements for them both, provided they have the familiarity with the conditions.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think it's his pure speed that basically "forces" the ball to swing when combined with his ball delivery. That is, his speed still extracts the aerodynamic effects in conditions where 5kmh less may not do it. I THINK he will be huge in England; that said, I wonder if he bowls TOO quick for those conditions when swing can be obtained from more subtle speeds and line/length? It will be interesting to see. Australia could really do with him getting over to the UK this winter and playing in whatever comp. Great if he could get a County contract, but if not, you'd think it would be worth the development $ for CA to find him a local comp where he could practice and experiment for a month or two. Better that than getting to the Ashes with no preceding tour games (likely).
JamesH
Roar Guru
That's true. I think a lot has to do with his lower trajectory - the ball tends to kiss the wicket, rather than grip in it. He hurries batsmen and often has the ball continuing to swing after it bounces, which is really unusual in Australia.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
True and I have noted that on other articles. I also think the less abrasive nature of the wicket helps keep the shiny side in good nick. But overall it hasn't been much of an issue in Jhye's case. He's taken plenty of wickets at the WACA on dry decks.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Not looking to nitpick, but that isn't necessarily true in Australia. I was listening to Ed Cowan on the TGC podcast the other night and he said that softer wickets have a lot more to do with swing in Australia than the overhead conditions. In his experience, the Kooka always swings for the first few overs regardless of moisture level the air, but quickly stops if the wicket itself is dry (until reverse comes into play). As soon as you start to lose the outer layer on the Kooka it just won't swing. But if the wicket has some moisture and protects the ball, it will keep swinging even if the air has dried out.
Mike
Guest
Yep, Shane should certainly never comment about anything other than cricket. He's said some ridiculous things about wider issues that exposes the narrowness of his thought patterns. Knee-jerk reactions from a very tight sphere of reference that he appears to have no interest in broadening. He and Steve Waugh are polar opposites in this regard. I may be wrong but it's difficult to imagine Warnie putting himself out to help a bunch of suffering kids in India. "What's in it for me?" Awesome legspin bowler that changed the world of cricket. Chappelli - influential leader in his day who stood up for his players against the establishment and changed the world of cricket. Both hold grudges and have an insatiable need to be fawned over for their past great deeds. Warne's grudge over being dropped (correctly - his form was terrible) by Tugga for the final test in that Windies tour will never ease. Chappelli's hatred of Tugga for not fawning over him and then not coming to him, cap in hand, for captaining advice will never ease.
nics
Roar Rookie
Your England is very powderful.
nics
Roar Rookie
I wonder whether the focus on the big 3 (Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood) has meant we just haven't blooded any viable alternatives. Eg Sayers (now retired), Pattinson (injury-stricken), and now our new professional 12th man, Richardson. He needs to change his name by deed poll to either Mitch or Marsh.
nics
Roar Rookie
That's wayy too subversive. First we need a pliable rookie desperate to keep his spot. Step forward Mr ...
sheek
Roar Guru
I would much rather listen to what Warne has to say, than say Kygrios or Novak or V'Landys, or Morrison, or Trump, or Putin, to name just 6 others.
Kim Hughes 1980
Roar Rookie
In this article, the Aussie Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) raises its ugly head again! It is great that Warnie speaks his mind. He knows a thing or seven about cricket and I am grateful to him for giving his honest, straightforward opinions. We can all benefit from his expertise even though we might not agree with him all the time. The other greats referred to who don’t have “such an insatiable appetite for shoving his oar in” know they will get bagged by the many Aussie TPS sufferers if they speak their mind – that is why those greats “sit on the fence” a lot, giving only plain-vanilla opinions that put us to sleep. It is about time Australia cured itself of the dreaded TPS – it is holding us back. I say, congratulations Warnie – keep it up mate.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Ah well
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They're planning to be all electric by 2025.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
All mine were real VWs, except one had a 2.5lt Subaru engine.
Dusty
Guest
Tall poppy syndrome at its finest. I could listen to Warnie talk cricket all day. His knowledge for the game is out of this world and he is operating on a different level to the majority of nitwits you hear in the media
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Only 4 VW for me...including my current Tiguan.
matth
Roar Guru
Never said he should, I just believe Warne has a motive and Starc deserves more respect than “pathetic” etc
Chanon
Roar Rookie
When you show respect for the great man then suggest he acts like a clown at times l listen without reverting to attacking the individual, fair enough mate! :thumbup:
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
Exactly...
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The SA cricket officials mocking Warner with their SBW face mask was, in part, the genesis of that odd little episode of Sandpaper