Shane Warne did more than anyone else for the betterment of spin-bowling, says Muttiah Muralitharan
India Today
Speaking to India Today, Muttiah Muralitharan said he was not able to process the demise of his good friend and rival Shane Warne. The legendary Australian died on Friday due to a suspected heart attack.
Legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said he was not able to process the news of Shane Warne passing away on Friday. Speaking to India Today, Muralitharan said Warne's demise is a great loss to the lovers of the sport.
Shane Warne, on Friday, died due to a suspected heart attack aged 52. The celebrated leg-spinner was at a villa in Thailand when the doctors tried to revive him, unsuccessfully. Warne's untimely demise was a tough pill to swallow for the cricket fraternity that had idolized the legendary leg-spinner who mesmerised generations of fans and cricketers, alike with the art that he had mastered.
Muralitharan and Warne were contemporaries, racing through the all-time wicket-takers list at their peak. While Warne was bamboozling batters across the globe, Murali was weaving magic with his off-spin as Australia and Sri Lanka won an array of matches due to the genius of the two spinners. While Warne finished his career with 708 wickers, Muralitharan picked up 92 more.
Muralitharan said he was shocked, adding that Warne was fit and running when the last time he met the Australian leg-spinner. The two were regarded as great rivals but they shared an envious camaraderie off the field.
'HE WILL BE REMEMBERED IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE GREATEST'
"It's shocking. I don't know what to say. He's a good friend and also a legendary cricketer. What he has done for spin bowling is more than anyone. He will be remembered as one of the greats in history. It's not the age to die. He was fit whenever I saw him. It's sad for the whole cricket fraternity. It's a big, big loss for the cricketing fraternity,"Muralitharan told India Today.
"I first saw him in 1992. He won a match for Australia in difficult times. Then I thought, he was going to be a different bowler. It's shocking news for the world."
