Shane Warne: Cricketer’s death not treated as suspicious – latest news & tributes

Shane Warne’s cricketing career was dotted with pieces of genius, as one of the most gifted spin bowlers to ever don a pair of whites invariably picked the most high-profile moments to deliver for Australia.

From the ‘Ball of the Century’ that bamboozled Mike Gatting and launched his career to an MCG hat-trick, World Cup success and a perfect Ashes swansong, Warne was never far away from the spotlight.

Leg-spinner Warne – whose 708 Test wickets has only been surpassed by contemporary rival and fellow spinner Muttiah Muralitharan – could not be revived after being found unresponsive in his Thailand villa.

England are currently in the Caribbean, preparing for a three-Test series against the West Indies and ahead of the final day of their warm-up against a Cricket West Indies President’s XI, the players and umpires stood in the middle for a minute’s silence in honour of Warne.

Former Australia spinner Shane Warne has died aged 52, his management company has confirmed.

Warne was on the popular tourist island of Koh Samui when he was found. Local medics attended the scene but could not save him.

“It is with great sadness we advise that Shane Keith Warne passed away of a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand today, Friday 4 March,” a statement from his management company MPC Entertainment read. “Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived. The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”

Warne ranks second behind only fellow spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the all-time list of leading Test wicket-takers and you can read more of the statistics from his stunning career in the piece below.

Shane Warne was a cricket icon but such was his raw charisma and instantly-recognisable look, he transcended the sport during his life.

The Australian cricket legend died of a suspected heart attack aged just 52 while in Koh Samui, Thailand, and could not be revived after he was found unresponsive in his Thailand villa.

Thai police have now released two further bits of information. They have confirmed that they are not treating the death as a suspicious and have also stated that he was found by associates staying in the same villa as Warne, who unsuccessfully tried to revive him.

Following news of his death, fellow celebrities rushed to pay tribute on social media.

Australia’s men’s Test side are currently on an historic tour to Pakistan and captain Pat Cummins has given his reaction to the news of Shane Warne’s death.

“We are all numbed by the news,” he told reporters in Pakistan. “Apart from the wickets he took and the games he helped Australia win, what he did was draw so many people to the sport. So many of us in the playing group grew up idolising him and fell in love with this great sport as a result, while many of our support staff either played with him or against him.”

Instantly recognisable and one of the most charismatic figures to ever grace the sport of cricket, there are plenty of images that capture the magic of Shane Warne.

Here is a tribute to the Australian leg-spin legend’s life and career in pictures.

Warne, a former captain of Australia’s One-Day International side and vice-captain of the Test team, is considered one of the greatest bowlers of all time. He is the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket.

Born to an Australian father and German mother in Victoria on 13 September 1969, Warne went on to play for the University of Melbourne and by 1990 had begun training at the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide.

The following year, Warne moved to England to represent Accrington Cricket Club, before returning to Australia to make his first-class debut for Victoria. Soon thereafter, Warne made his first appearances for Australia’s reserve national teams and would go on to launch a remarkable international career.

Shane Warne, the legendary Australian spin bowler considered one of the greatest cricketers of all time, has died aged 52 of a suspected heart attack while in Thailand.

Warne was on the popular tourist island of Koh Samui when he was found. Local medics attended the scene but could not save him.

Thai police have now released two further bits of information. They have confirmed that they are not treating the death as a suspicious and have also stated that he was found by associates staying in the same villa as Warne, who unsuccessfully tried to revive him.

A statement from Warne’s management company MPC Entertainment read: “It is with great sadness we advise that Shane Keith Warne passed away of a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand today, Friday 4 March. Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived. The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”

A statement from Warne’s management company said Warne had been found unresponsive at his villa in Thailand and “despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived.”

The Barmy Army, England’s supporters club, said Warne was a “complete genius” and “one of the game’s greatest characters” who is “forever etched in Ashes history”.

The England cricket team posted on Twitter: “One of the greatest of all-time. A legend. A genius. You changed Cricket. RIP Shane Warne”.

Shane Warne’s cricketing career was dotted with pieces of genius, as one of the most gifted spin bowlers to ever don a pair of whites invariably picked the most high-profile moments to deliver for Australia.

From the ‘Ball of the Century’ that bamboozled Mike Gatting and launched his career to an MCG hat-trick, World Cup success and a perfect Ashes swansong, Warne was never far away from the spotlight.

After a career that dazzled and enthralled, we look back at some of Warne’s most memorable moments.