Ricky Ponting said he is shocked by the news of Shane Warne’s passing, adding that he has not been able to process it. Warne and Ponting share a wonderful rapport with Australia being part of many memorable victories.
Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting were friends on and off the field (AFP photo)
highlighted
- Shane Warne died of a heart attack on March 4
- Ponting called the news of Warne’s death ‘very crude’
- Ponting and Warne were part of many memorable Australian victories
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting broke down as he recounted his memories with his good friend and former teammate Shane Warne, who died of a suspected heart attack on Friday, March 4. While talking to Isha Guha for ICC TV, Ponting discussed the bond they share. With the great leg-spinner and how he wants to carry on the legacy of great cricket.
Shane Warne passed away at a villa in Thailand Sending shock waves through the cricket fraternity, during his personal visit to the Asian nation. Ponting said that he snatched the phone from his wife who told him about the news of his former partner’s passing. The famous captain said that he could not believe the news and was in a state of shock.
Warne played 34 Tests under Ponting’s captaincy and took 200 wickets out of his total of 708. Both the cricketers share a wonderful rapport. Both were part of several Ashes winning campaigns and were part of the World Cup winning team in 1999.
Ponting said he could not digest the news of Warne’s demise, highlighting how difficult it is to hear his voice on television whenever the leg-spinner’s clip is played.
“I woke up well and early I was getting the kids ready for netball and Riana (Ponting’s wife) saw his phone and told me the news about Warne,” Ponting told the ICC.
“I grabbed the phone from his hand to look at it and I couldn’t believe it and it’s still the same. It was so raw to me that I couldn’t really speak and every time I talked about him and our experiences.” I thought and our journey together and I have short for words.
“Today I still have TV to watch the tribute, but every time I hear his voice I have to turn it off.”
‘I wish I had told him this’
Meanwhile, Ponting expressed his only regret regarding Warne, saying that the two occasionally met for golf sessions as they shared the same Melbourne suburb.
“I will say how much I love him,” Ponting said.
“I didn’t tell him that and I wish I did.”