Australia great Ricky Ponting paid tribute to his former teammate Shane Warne, who died of a suspected heart attack on Friday at the age of 52. Warne’s sudden demise shook the cricketing community as the legendary spinner was enjoying a holiday in Thailand, where he was found unresponsive at a luxury resort in Koh Samui.
Ponting played a lot of cricket with Warne for Australia and was also their captain during the legendary spinner’s final playing days. The two shared a great rapport both on and off the field.
The former Australian captain recalled his good friend, whom he first met at the age of 15, and said that they both share all the ups and downs of their careers together.
“It’s hard to put into words. I first met him when I was 15 years old at the academy. He gave me my surname. We’ve been together for over a decade,” Ponting wrote on Instagram along with a few pictures with Warne Teammates for the time being, rode all the ups and downs together.”
The two-time World Cup winning captain further said that Warne was someone who always put his teammates first and everyone trusted him.
“Through it all he was someone you could always count on, someone who loved his family. Someone who will be there for you when you need it and always put your teammates first.”
Ponting further expressed his condolences to the family members of the deceased cricketers.
“The greatest bowler I have ever played with or against. RIP King. My thoughts are with Keith, Bridget, Jason, Brooke, Jackson and Summer,” he wrote.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday that Australians were “shocked” by Warne’s “tragic and sudden loss”, and announced that the cricketing hero would receive a state funeral.
Warne played a total of 145 Tests in a career spanning 15 years, taking 708 wickets, and was also an effective lower-order batsman with the highest Test score of 99.
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