Thread by @gauravsabnis

Dude lived life on his own terms and knew he was lucky to get to do it. That's the lesson I take away from this. Always be grateful for your privilege every day because who knows when you die!

https://twitter.com/UpshotTowers/status/1500420550061080577

I still haven't fully processed Warne's untimely death. I was hoping to berate his often lazy commentary for decades trying to pressure him into being better than he was at commentary, because he was indeed better than he was at commentary.

And mate just dies?

Unfair!

As someone who obsessively watches test cricket, it was so hilariously obvious from his commentary when Warnie had a late night. 🤭🤭
He would just go to the same old wells & just rely on banter. Clearly just relying on his immense intellect to get through the day.

But occasionally he'd be so lucid and insightful. Most often when he was on the air with Harsha, whom he seemed to genuinely love, and Gavaskar, whom he seemed to genuinely respect.

With them, Warne would suddenly be the brilliant statesman commentator he could be.

Atherton was another whose company made Warnie give his best, whether on the pitch or in the commentary box.

I grew up watching Warnie dominate every single team except my own. Perfect foreign athlete crush to have. He beats all teams except mine.

Plus dude was always fat.

I've been always fat!

So I have any extra soft spot for fat people who became professional athletes.

Warnie being so fat throughout was such a validating thing for someone who's struggled with weight all his life.

I still remember an Ashes test match where he spun AUS to an unlikely victory. Headline next day -

"It ain't over until the fat laddie spins"

😂😂😂

I'm laughing at the memories and crying at the loss.

Too soon, dude. You died too soon.

Leg Spin is one of those weird things that you can't fully explain the beauty of to someone who doesn't really truly deeply understand cricket. Why it is so much harder to bowl and to play than off-spin.

The guile, the drama, the theater.

It only comes along rarely.

And Warne was THE best leg spinner in cricket history by a huge margin. The best!

There hasn't been a leg spinner even close to him since, though test cricket is going through a golden era of bowling talent.

No one comparable to Warne.

Offies, lefties, yup. No Warne's.

I was once trying to explain to a baseball loving student (@DeFazioNJ or @madgers818 perhaps) how leg Spin is one thing I simply have no baseball analogy for. Because the ball needs to bounce for it to work. And in a weird way. Confusing way.

I think we were talking about how fat Bartolo Colón was while still being a top pitcher and I was like let me tell you about Shane Warne and they were like did he pitch fast and I said no, in fact he pitched extremely slow. He was still impossible to play for most people.

It wasn't just that Shane Warne was a historically great bowler. It was also how comfortable he was in his own skin. Always. And so upbeat and cheerful. Even in defeat. And so so so stereotypically Aussie in a good way.

Shane Warne was a "character" in the true sense.

I know 52 isn't exactly as young as 27 but that "it's better to burn out than fade away" really apples to his life. He really burnt the candle at both ends. Very Babe Ruth type life.

Big booming personality, big booming voice, always cheerful and throwing around the word "MATE!"

Sigh. I can't believe he's gone.

Dude even made the first IPL the most memorable one unexpectedly.

This is a good clip showing Shane Warne at his best. How this big obese dude became a GOAT with just his brains, guile, and of course his big hands that he made use of in other ways as well by implying what big hands implied, lol 😂
@DeFazioNJ @madgers818