Former Australia all-rounder and current assistant coach of Delhi Capitals in IPL, Shane Watson said ahead of Shane Warne’s state funeral at the MCG on Wednesday that he is yet to know about the demise of the cricket legend.
Warne died on March 4 of a suspected heart attack on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand, where he was vacationing.
Talking about his close friend and former teammate, Watson said that Warne had a great influence on his career. Watson made his debut for Australia in 2002 when Warne was at the peak of his powers for his country and his career crossed paths at the domestic level as well, when he played in the English county of Hampshire and then with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
Watson told the ICC on Wednesday, “It’s hard to understand that he is no longer with us. I was very lucky – like Ricky Ponting was to me – Shane Warne was the same (kind of) mentor to me. 20 years old In 2012, when I came to the Australian team, the way he took me under his wing and looked after me was extraordinary. In Hampshire in 2004 and 2005, I continued to develop my cricket because of Warney.
IPL Full Coverage , the schedule , Result , orange cape , purple cap
“I was in the Australian cricket junkyard in 2008 because of the injuries I sustained, and Warney always believed in me. That’s why I went to Rajasthan Royals,” Watson said.
Watson said that Warne had faith in everyone in his team and that positive attitude helped Rajasthan Royals win the IPL title in 2008.
“Being able to have me as captain and coach for those four years at Rajasthan Royals has transformed me from a cricketer who believed in himself to be a Superman,” Watson said.
“That’s what he did to everyone around him. It wasn’t just me.”
“And the skill that Warne had – the 2008 IPL, bringing a new group of players together. He was the captain-coach, so he was running the show as a whole. Seeing the best parts of people and getting them really quickly His ability to bring this together, is the reason why Rajasthan Royals did so well and came out victorious.”
Recalling some of his memorable interactions with Warne, Watson said the late cricketer was always a willing assistant and a great friend.
“I have had a lot of conversations with Warney about life and cricket. He always talked about how to take aggressive choices, how to take positive choices in any situation. He turned my bowling. His mindset was always to take wickets. My mindset to play under him at Rajasthan Royals changed. So he was ridiculously good, because he always knew how to try and get a wicket.
“His advice in all different parts of life. He was someone who was always ready to help in any way he could. My first commentary gig was last year’s T20 World Cup. He was a man who supported, Arrived to provide some great words of encouragement and advice, because that’s what he did for his teammates.”
Get all the latest updates cricket news, cricket pictures, cricket videos, IPL 2022 Live Updates And cricket score Here