In short
Jackson Warne tours the Australian Sports Museum exhibition of Shane Warne’s memorabilia at the MCG, sharing memories of his father’s cricket genius, personality, and legacy (including leg-spin revival, iconic Ashes moments, and stadium connections).
Guests
Jackson Warne (Shane Warne’s son; grew up near the MCG; discusses family life, grief memorial panel, and stories with Coldplay/Ed Sheeran). Also featured are host/panelists including Michael (former player/commentator) and “Nass” (another cricket guest), who compare Shane’s greatness and discuss specific matches and deliveries.
Key claims
Shane revitalised leg spin; was both charismatic and psychologically strategic (“chess” mind games); treated everyone with manners and humility; kept meticulous memorabilia (catalogued, vacuum-sealed, consistent handwriting).
Notable examples
“Ball of the Century” (Gatting, first Ashes ball, Old Trafford); MCG hat-trick items (no hat-trick ball mystery); Shane’s 700th Test wicket at the MCG; 99 Not Out beer; baggy green donated for bushfire appeal; Ed Sheeran’s father meeting Shane at Lord’s.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VORemembering Shane Warne
0:45 to 2:54
Discussion on Shane Warne's legacy and his impact on cricket.
“and when you're at the G, you have to come here because he is Mr Cricket in these parts.”
Jackson's Memories of Dad
2:54 to 4:54
Jackson Warne shares personal memories and reflections about his father.
“So many memories, and especially here at the MCG.”
The Public and Private Life of Shane Warne
4:54 to 7:12
Insights into Shane Warne's character and how he interacted with others.
“And he obviously loved this place, but the people of Melbourne loved him as well.”
The Memorial Service
7:12 to 8:06
Jackson reflects on the emotional memorial service for Shane Warne.
“And thank you as well for coming and talking on that panel.”
Life Lessons from Dad
8:06 to 12:11
Jackson shares valuable lessons he learned from Shane Warne.
“I love you up to the sky and back, and I'll see you soon.”
The Shane Warne Exhibition
12:11 to 14:00
Discussion about the exhibition dedicated to Shane Warne's memorabilia.
“And I've noticed it with you because when you came downstairs to say hello you immediately introduced yourself.”
Shane Warne's Memorabilia Journey
14:00 to 14:59
Jackson discusses the surprising decision to display Shane's memorabilia.
“First of all, tell us how it came about.”
Cataloging and Preserving Memories
15:00 to 17:29
A look into Shane Warne's meticulous cataloging of his cricket memorabilia.
“So there's about 40 odd items on display here and we'll have a look around at some of them, but there's a lot more.”
Iconic Ball of the Century
17:30 to 19:59
Discussion about the significance of the famous Gatting ball and its history.
“from 1991 and 2 to, yeah, after you've retired 07.”
The Psychology of Shane Warne
20:00 to 22:39
Exploring Shane's strategic mindset and psychological tactics in cricket.
“I watch it and go, wow, how did he do that?”
Show all 17 chapters
The Mystery of the No-Ball
22:40 to 24:59
Jackson shares the enigma surrounding the missing hat-trick ball.
“A test hat trick, ashes hat trick at the MCG.”
700th Wicket Celebration
25:00 to 27:29
Reflecting on the excitement of Shane's 700th wicket and its impact.
“And we've gone, I think that's because of the 700th.”
Competing Against Shane Warne
27:30 to 28:00
Insights from players on the challenges of facing Shane in matches.
“Well, Nass, we've never been on an honours board so frequently.”
Personal Memories of Shane Warne
28:00 to 29:39
Listeners will hear personal anecdotes and memories of Shane Warne from those who played against him.
“Athers won't be here, this side, because McGrath was getting him early on those things.”
The Art of Leg Spin and Shane's Technique
29:40 to 31:08
The discussion focuses on Shane Warne's unique bowling technique and his physical attributes that contributed to his success.
“He kind of, so they would be almost like that.”
Warne’s Batting and Unique Style
31:09 to 32:55
Exploration of Shane Warne's batting style, his memorable moments, and his distinct choice of headwear.
“He loved his batting, but obviously what we've got here, I think that's the helmet he was wearing at Perth when he got out to Daniel Vittori on the 99.”
Legacy and Impact of Shane Warne
32:56 to 34:18
Discussion about Shane Warne's legacy, his influence on aspiring cricketers, and how he wishes to be remembered.
“When in 2020 we were doing the bushfire appeal, he actually donated his bag of green, which got sold for over a million dollars.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Nasir Hussain:Welcome along to a special Sky Cricket podcast episode. Mainly special because it means we can take a week off after banging on every day for the last two months. The ashes are done and dusted and we'll be back in the lead up to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. But to keep the pod ticking over, we're going to take you back to Melbourne. Ahead of that test, the Australian Sports Museum launched a Shane Warne exhibition and we had the pleasure of Shane's son, Jackson, showing us around all his memorabilia.
0:39Nasir Hussain:Well, the Ashes has made its way to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test Match and when you're in Melbourne, you have to come down to the MCG and when you're at the G, you have to come here because he is Mr Cricket in these parts. Shane Warne, the king, look at that action, the statue of the great man, how many cricketers, how many England batters have been 22 yards from that pose dreading what was coming down, not having a clue which way the ball was going to spin. For me, the greatest cricketer by a mile of anyone I've ever played against for so many different reasons, not just his cricketing ability.
1:16Nasir Hussain:Michael, where does he rate for you and why was he so special, Shane Warne?
1:20Jackson Warne:Oh, unquestionably, the greatest bowler that I played against, I kind of think of Shane, Viv Richards, Virat Kohli as amongst the most charismatic cricketers that I've seen on the world stage. But in terms of spin bowling and bowling, unquestionably the greatest cricketer that I played against. I mean, he revitalised the art of leg spin. I think it says that there, actually. So, yeah, combining prodigious spin, revive the art of leg spin, which had kind of been dying out a little bit in Australia. You know, the 70s and 80s had been decades where the fast bowlers had dominated and suddenly this great leg spinner appeared on the scene.
1:58Jackson Warne:I obviously played in the old Trafford game, the ball of the century game. And then, you know, it was unfortunate enough to play in all those ashes series where he was on the other side. But it was a combination of his great skill and prodigious turner of the ball, unbelievably accurate. So a great attacking and defensive force, but an unbelievably charismatic cricket. I always think that 2005 series, ironically, the only Ashes series that he lost, I thought you saw his greatness come out in that series because that was a series where Australia struggled. A lot of the great players kind of withered away and he stood tall with 40 wickets and, I don't know, 260 runs or something.
2:38Jackson Warne:and almost single-handedly got Australia over the line.
2:41Nasir Hussain:Well, for us, he was an opponent. He was a friend. He was a fellow commentator. For you, Jackson Warne, he was a dad. And you must have some very, very special memories of him, not just as a cricketer, but as a person as well.
2:56Athar Ahmed:So many memories, and especially here at the MCG. And I think he'll always be dad to me. He'll always be my best friend. But my connection, especially to the MCG, Dad used to describe it as his office or his backyard. So for me to be only living 30 minutes away from his office or his backyard, where he's got the statue, he's got the Shane Warne stand, he's taken a hat trick here, he's got his 700th wicket here, he calmed down the crowd. Like he has such a connection to this stadium and to this place that to me it feels like home. So to be able to come here on Boxing Day test and then in the home and away season for the AFL, I find it quite lucky because even though it is quite sad sitting in the stand and seeing the Shane Warne stand and instantly thinking he should still be here.
3:40Athar Ahmed:The amount of messages I get, photos get sent of people putting their VBs up here and saying, Merry Christmas, Jackson, with their selfies with the Shane Warne stand. I was going to ask you about that, you know,
3:49Jackson Warne:because every time I come and look at this statue, I see VB cans, I see pizzas, I see chip sandwiches, I see Vegemite. I mean, your dad didn't have the best diet, did he, from time to time?
4:00Athar Ahmed:He didn't have the best diet, and you've probably also seen him when he'd be in the commentary box making hot chip sandwiches with white bread, butter, chips, extra amount of sauce, eating it. But that was him. He never changed for anybody, doesn't matter how old or young he was or who he was talking to, where he was. He was always himself. And I think that's why so many people respected him and I think that's why so many people loved him, because he was always himself. You've touched on it. What did this place mean to him? I think it'd probably be one of the most special stadiums in his heart ever.
4:31Athar Ahmed:You know, obviously he has a big connection to Lords where they've now got a commentary box after him. He's got, obviously, Hampshire and where he played at a junior East Sandringham down in Radistair Royals. He's got all these connections at all these different places all around the world. But at the MCG, like I said before, where the stand, the statue, his hologram downstairs, and now the exhibition, it's just another fairy tale to his entire career and to his legacy.
4:55Nasir Hussain:And he obviously loved this place, but the people of Melbourne loved him as well. How difficult was it for him? I mean, we see him. we come out of commentary boxes at Lord's and everyone wants a piece of shame worn. Could he walk around Melbourne and have a normal life or just no way?
5:10Athar Ahmed:He definitely could and he definitely did live a normal life. He was never somebody that would separate himself from the people. He did like to walk around with security guards or in big groups. He was more than comfortable walking around the streets with me, my sisters, mum, everybody and he was always himself and I think Mark Howard described it perfectly. He called it this glow effect because he would see walking in and out of stadiums, the people's faces and their smiles after they've come into contact with Dad for photos, autographs, and he called it this glow effect. And I was so lucky that I got to see that my entire life, and not only in Australia, but in England, even in places like America where they don't even play cricket, people would still recognise him.
5:48Athar Ahmed:Spain, because a lot of English people like to go to holiday in Spain. But he always loved Melbourne, he loved coming home, and he loved the people.
5:56Jackson Warne:So his character was no different then from the kind of person that we saw on the field and around the dressing room to the dad that you knew back at home. Because often athletes have very different personalities, don't they? They call it white line fever or whatever. They can be totally different on the pitch to off the pitch. It sounds like your dad was pretty same all the way through.
6:17Athar Ahmed:Yeah, well, I completely agree with you. And I think there was quite a separation from dad's media sort of image to his personal image. and I'm really glad that after the state memorial those sort of images got mixed together and everybody was able to see the side that you guys got to see working with him and the side that I got to see his dad because everybody especially like yourself when you were talking about dad you all had things in common he was generous with his time he was generous with his energy he was making people laugh making people smile how can I help you and that was just dad always no matter who it was for what it was about he just wanted to help people and that memorial service I mean
6:53Nasir Hussain:And that was so tricky for you and your sisters. It must have been such a difficult period in your life. And I guess still, but you spoke so openly and so bravely with your sisters that evening. That was a special occasion for the people of Melbourne, people of Australia, to show how much they love Shane. Yeah. And thank you as well for coming and talking on that panel.
7:15Athar Ahmed:It still feels a little bit surreal, like the fact that there was apparently a billion people that watched it live. of 50 ,000 people in the MCG. And just to hear the panel and feel the atmosphere and be in the middle of the MCG, like it was very strange. But to me, although some people have said what you did was very brave and it took a lot of courage and strength, I had the mindset of, Dad wants me to do this, so I'm going to do it for Dad. Doesn't matter how many cameras there were, doesn't matter who it was for, what it was about. I knew I had to do that for Dad. That's what Dad would want me to do.
7:47Athar Ahmed:And I think it completely changed my life because I got to speak about something that was so personal and emotional to me in such a public setting that, yeah, I just found myself a lot more comfortable talking in front of cameras and talking about Dad. And, yeah, I just know he would want me to remember him like that. But, yeah, it was a special night. I miss you so much, Dad. I love you up to the sky and back, and I'll see you soon. Thank you. APPLAUSE
8:19Nasir Hussain:Difficult question, but was it difficult being Shane Warne's lad, been a son or a daughter of Shane?
8:25Athar Ahmed:I don't think so. I don't want to use the word difficult. It was something that I feel like every maybe teenager goes through their life where they're struggling with their identity or they don't like being labelled this person's son or this person's sister. And my whole life never had a problem with it. When I was about 14, 15, 16 years old, you'd be like, oh, well, I'm also Jackson, you know. I'm not just Shane Warne's son. That's not my title. I'm just Jackson. but then after dad had passed do you know how cool it is to say that my dad is Shane Warne I am so proud of that and he knows that I know that and I think that what makes a lot of people really like seeing me or my sisters talking about dad now because we are all so proud of him so and when
9:04Nasir Hussain:he went home sorry when he went home would he sit there and watch cricket or what would he do I mean because he knew like like in the con box he would disappear for a snooze or a pizza or whatever and he would come back and a bit like Ricky, he would be so switched on, so on the money. You know, cricket, he wasn't just a genius with the ball. Some people are genius, but this was a bloke who was a genius, but also knew the game inside out. Out thought me so many times. Yeah, it's not difficult. But what was he like? Was he a cricket badger as well?
9:35Athar Ahmed:Yeah, well, I feel like at home we say that he was just dad, but dad or father sometime to us was AFL cheering home the St Kilda Football Club, which is his team he barracked for here. Poker nights, pizzas, catching up with friends, horse racing, all of that stuff he absolutely loved. But there'd be times where I'd go out, get home at 1am, 2am, and I could just smell some smokes and I'd smell it. I'd go into his room and he'd be in bed watching the TV, watching Sky Sports, and I'm just like, this is so much fun. I'm a little bit tipsy, but I'll sit on the couch and watch him talk about cricket.
10:05Athar Ahmed:I've got no idea what's going on, but he'd be saying, I've got a feeling this batsman's going to get out in the next three balls. He's going to try and hit a six. Hits a six, two balls later, gets out. So dad was just such a fascinating person to watch describe cricket. And he wasn't like that with just cricket. He was like that with golf, AFL, literally every sport. He had such a good mind for people and he could read people so well. But no, at home he was just dad.
10:28Jackson Warne:Don't tell me he was a disciplinarian when you came in late at night a bit tipsy.
10:32Athar Ahmed:What's a disciplinarian?
10:33Jackson Warne:He put the hard word on you and say, I'm not having this. You're out too late.
10:38Athar Ahmed:He was definitely encouraging and be like, where have you been? Who have you spoken to? So if you've picked up any girls here or there, if you had any fun. And who's the better poker player? I want to say Dad was, just because he taught me everything I know. But, you know, Dad was obviously very strict when I was young. He taught us right from wrong and manners are free, all of that sort of stuff. But as I got older, especially since finishing school, I think he was just so happy that my schedule would open up. I didn't have to go to school Monday to Friday. So he was like, all right, Jacko, what do you want to do?
11:06Athar Ahmed:You want to come to England, work with Sky? You want to come and do this, Dunhill? What do you want to do? so for me our friendship just got closer and closer as soon as I got 18 and older and a friend
11:16Nasir Hussain:of the stars as well I mean last time I saw you was at the Coldplay concert Chris Martin got us a few freebie tickets there so he was just the stars loved him and he loved them as well he did
11:27Athar Ahmed:and especially the UK stars and we talk about Chris Martin from Coldplay and Ed Sheeran a lot but he genuinely had such a good relationship with both of them and there was a really funny story with how dad met Ed and fast forward a few years after that it turns out Ed's dad John loves cricket and Ed said Ed told dad look my dad John it's his dream to face and over from you can we please do can we organize something like that so dad was like sure mate let's do it organize I'm pretty sure it was at Lord's it was meant to be 10 minutes bowling to him in the nets it ended up being two hours and to see Ed's face and John's face dad said that was one of the coolest things ever because to him dad was giving up his time which he was more than happy to do but to see the smile on Ed's face and to see the smile on John's face was literally like why dad did what he did.
12:12Jackson Warne:And I've noticed it with you because when you came downstairs to say hello you immediately introduced yourself. I always said about your dad that you mentioned it a moment ago about manners and what I always liked about your dad was that no matter who it was it might have been I don't know you know a duke in the house of lords or whatever he would always treat people the same and he would always introduce himself first of all he'd say hello i'm shane one now everybody knew who he was but he didn't assume people knew who he was and i always liked that about him i always thought that was a a measure of his kind of humility really yeah he definitely exactly to
12:49Athar Ahmed:that i have so many moments where he would be in the crown smokers at 2am talking to a prime minister or talking to the bus driver or talking to a receptionist doesn't matter who it was where it was or what time it was he was always himself always wanted to make people laugh and exactly like what you just said he just wanted to make people laugh and he was always very manners are free hello my name's Shane and I think that's what I've gotten from him because I got two awards at my school first award was for having the best manners when I was in prep my second award was taking a hat trick when I was about 15 years old they're the only two awards I've got from school, but yeah, I think just growing up with mum and dad, always drilling into me, manners are free, manners are free, manners are free.
13:26Athar Ahmed:Hat trick with leggies or? Hat trick with leggies, but I was bowling moonies. Do you know what moonies are?
13:32Nasir Hussain:Well, they're like our leggies. Yeah, probably your leggies.
13:35Athar Ahmed:It's just possibly the slowest ball of all time. That when the batsman knew it was me, they'd either try and hit it for six and hit it straight up and get caught, or they'd miss and get stumped. They're the two, they're like leggies, but they were moonies.
13:46Nasir Hussain:Right, enough about your filthy legs, Ben, over the years. Let's go and have a look at the exhibition, the real reason we're here. Let's do it.
13:53Jackson Warne:OK, well, here we are, the Australian Sports Museum and the bowels of the MCG and this permanent exhibition of your dad's memorabilia. First of all, tell us how it came about.
14:04Athar Ahmed:Yeah, it's a bit surreal sort of seeing it all like this because Dad never displayed his memorabilia. We always used to ask, why don't you display it? And he always used to say, they know what I did. They know what I did. so to see it actually here catalogued properly on display under the lights it's a bit surreal like it doesn't feel like we've had this for 25 years in our like collection but as soon as dad passed all of us came together as a family dad's team the executives of his estate everybody that knew and worked with daddy's entire life we all had the first instinct that was what do we do with dad's memorabilia and that was share it with the world and we didn't know what that looked like we We didn't know if that was put it in a van and tour it around Australia, take it to the UK.
Read the full transcript
14:44Athar Ahmed:We don't know. Do we build our own museum? Do we donate it? Do we sell it? We don't know. But fast forward three and a half years for it to now finally end up at what dad used to call his backyard or at his office where he's got all of these special moments. It's just a very surreal, but it's just another fairy tale ending to his legacy.
15:03Jackson Warne:So there's about 40 odd items on display here and we'll have a look around at some of them, but there's a lot more. so they were just in like storage boxes were they yeah dad was pretty strict with how he liked to
15:16Athar Ahmed:kept everything and mum was very good with it as well he just after every single game and you'll notice on all of the balls and his shirts saw the exact same handwriting he would catalog it the importance of it the stats the date who was against all of that and then he'd put in a vacuum seal bag put it away never for it to get touched damaged ruined he just i don't know maybe one day he visualized something like this happening i don't know but all i do know is this walking him walking keen to hear, he would be so proud of this. He'd be so happy you guys are here looking at it too and talking about it.
15:45Athar Ahmed:But that's what amazes me.
15:47Nasir Hussain:It's because a lot of cricketers have memorabilia. A lot of sports people have memorabilia, but Shane, you know, Shane had a busy life. You know, he lived 24 seven all the time, busy life, but he's taken the time to go home, sit there with a marker pen and make sure it is written, you know, and there forever basically. Exactly.
16:07Athar Ahmed:And he, I'm not sure if you guys know this, but he loved to flip houses, would love to move into a house, renovate, sell it. He absolutely loved to do that. I don't like moving. Like I've moved too many times in my lifetime, but for how many times he'd moved house and for it to all be exactly here, catalogued, protected, safe forever, and still look 10 out of 10. I don't know how dad did it, but it's amazing.
16:31Jackson Warne:Well, we're stood on a load of quotes here. What do you guys do in your memorabilia? I don't have any memorabilia. We weren't good enough to get any memorabilia. I genuinely...
16:38Nasir Hussain:I've got a little bit.
16:40Jackson Warne:I kept my England cap, one or two bits and bobs, but I don't know where they are. I'm not that kind of person to look back, really. I tend to look forward.
16:50Athar Ahmed:So do you think this is quite OCD? Because that's what me, Book, and some of you used to think about, Dad. He was very... Had to be Pacific, Black Sharpie. Had to be Right Dates. Had to be Line, Line, Line. Like, it had to be perfect. Was he?
17:01Nasir Hussain:I didn't see that side of him.
17:02Athar Ahmed:Well, lots of people like to think he was messy in the commentary box. He'd put his phone over there, chips over there. Like, if you come to his house, we had cleaners every single day. Everything was perfect. I couldn't leave any of my clothes on the floor. Couldn't leave my PlayStation remote on the coffee table. It had to all be perfect. You didn't pick up the ball of the century and go and have a little bowl in the glass.
17:21Nasir Hussain:I definitely didn't.
17:22Athar Ahmed:But I think before it came into here, I was definitely holding it a bit, taking some photos. But, yeah, it's amazing that when you look at all the handwriting soon, it's all the exact same. from 1991 and 2 to, yeah, after you've retired 07.
17:35Jackson Warne:OK, well, in this glass case, his memorabilia from that game at Old Trafford, the famous Gatting ball, is the shirt, man of the match award, the ball and the boots and the stump. I love on the fact, on the stump, Jackson, he's written in brackets, that ball.
17:53Athar Ahmed:He has written that ball. And at the time, we didn't know what it was going to be or the significance because it was only till the commentary and watching back the footage and you can hear the commentators and Ganning still doesn't know where it is because he's looking like this and until the journos and reporters started calling it the ball of the century. That's when I think Dad and Brendan Julian had to have a convo because usually when you take a Pfeiffer, you take the ball. So Brendan Julian had the ball. So Brendan Julian actually had the ball because he took Pfeiffer but I think Dad must have once all this started blowing up and Dad was like, nah mate, sorry BJ, I've got to have it.
18:24Athar Ahmed:So Dad in his convincing and persuasive ways ended up with the ball. How filthy is Brendan Julian by the way? Yeah, how much of that ball they were.
18:32Nasir Hussain:It's all remembered for that ball. It got Pfeiffer in the game. I didn't remember that.
18:36Jackson Warne:The story, actually, is that there was a journalist in the Sunday Times called Robin Marler, who was an English journalist, and he was the first one that day to say it's the ball of the century, and that's how it kind of started up, and it became the ball of the century.
18:53Athar Ahmed:It did, and I feel like every single day, there will be some sort of clip on TikTok or Instagram or Facebook. I'll just see it. I'll see people doing edits of it. but especially going into Boxing Day, it is probably the most played clip I've ever seen.
19:10Jackson Warne:First ball, he's bowled him. Gatting can't believe it. First ball, lethal. Played it badly, though, didn't he, Gat?
19:20Nasir Hussain:It's an after-dinner story, isn't it? It must have been a special ball to get round Gatting or something.
19:26Athar Ahmed:And I think that, as well, Gatting said he just wanted to not get out because it was like the last over before tea break. Is that right? Or before lunch? Absolutely, yeah. And I think he had got to see somebody back before him. He just said, I want to knock it out. We've got two or three overs to face until lunch. Just knock it out. Can see how much he spins it. And when he watched it, yeah, he just couldn't believe it.
19:46Nasir Hussain:I'm sorry, was it his first ball in the ashes? Yeah, his first ball in the ashes. His first ashy ball he's ever bowled came out like that. And I don't get sick of watching it, and I'm a pom. I still, I must have watched it a thousand times, more than that. and I still watch it and I still cannot believe the drift. It's the perfect delivery. It's incredible. I watch it and go, wow, how did he do that?
20:07Jackson Warne:The background to that day and that game was that it had been inevitably miserable, miserable weather at Manchester. It rained for days. And Australia had Tim May and your dad. And the thought was, because it was so wet, they'd only play one spinner. And often in wet conditions, you might go with a finger spinner in England, which is Tim May. So a bit of chat before the game, that Warnie might not play, but of course he did. And, yeah, to produce that ball with the very first ball of the Ashes was humble.
20:34Athar Ahmed:And I think as well, correct me if I'm wrong, leading up to the Ashes when Dad was playing in all the county-level cricket, the coach at the time and the captain were telling Dad, don't show them all of your moves. Don't show them your whole skill set.
20:45Jackson Warne:Well, Graham hit a big hundred at Worcester against your dad. Yeah. And that was the thing. He said he only bowled leg spinners at him. He didn't bowl googly or flipper. Didn't show him the whole bag of tricks.
20:56Athar Ahmed:So going into it did you know he was capable of any of the no because in those days like now if you were playing
21:03Jackson Warne:There'd be enough footage to go to the footage and as you know
21:06Nasir Hussain:Nothing then really yeah, what tour was it where you and Alec were up top that was watching
21:11Jackson Warne:following tour at Brisbane Because again, you know very little kind of footage you could get hold of so we went up on the gantry bit right behind After he got Stewie with that brilliant flipper, and we had the binoculars on him to try and work out what he was bowling.
21:26Nasir Hussain:You know what I was saying to you about your dad outside, about the genius, but also how much of a cricket brain he had? He would purposely bowl you a little drag-down delivery. He did to Stewie the ball before. A little drag-down that Stewie went back and cut beautifully. And you almost thought, Shane doesn't bowl many of those. And then next ball, he would set you up perfectly. He'd go, oh, there he goes again, and that flipper would come through. and that's right we never i didn't even have to like go back and research what's a flipper i've never heard of a flipper in my i thought that i mean that's obviously his greatest delivery but if you're asking me a real the wizard of warne the flipper which he ended up losing because of his shoulder once he got the shoulder problems he quite didn't have the zip on his flipper but those flippers i tell you they could make you look very silly yeah and dad used to joke when
22:13Athar Ahmed:coming up to an ashes or a world cup oh i've just figured out a new move or a new type of leg speed and he would just try to get into your heads because he would try to play the mind games full of nonsense. But I think that's what dad loved the most about leg spin. It was the psychology part of the sport. He loved trying to get into your head. He loved making you think he was going to bowl here but then end up bowling here. It was going to be leg spin but it was a wrong one. Like he loved that psychology part of the sport.
22:39Jackson Warne:Well, another iconic moment really. A test hat trick, ashes hat trick at the MCG. shirt, stump, boots, but no ball. What happened?
22:50Athar Ahmed:No ball. It's a big mystery because when we did the press conference for all of this and we're trying to find out why there was no hat-trick ball, my mum thinks it might have got stolen. We're not sure if that's why dad used to keep everything in boxes, but he used to try to say to me, Brooke and someone, that's why he was humble. We don't know. But for dad to have all of this but not the hat-trick, it is a bit bizarre, but, I mean, to have a hat-trick at the MCG in front of his friends and family two or three years into his career as he was going up was just...
23:17Jackson Warne:It was a very dramatic moment. It was the tail-enders, so he kind of hoovered up the tail, a bit of rabbit pie he had on that occasion. But David Boone at short leg took the catch, Devon Malcolm propped forward, and it was a brilliant low catch from Booney. And I remember now the crowd just went absolutely mental. Here we go.
23:41Jackson Warne:Big appeal. Has he got him? he's out he's got him Warren's taken a hat trick
23:52Jackson Warne:a terrific catch at short leg by David Boone and this incredible man from Victoria this brilliant leg spinner has written himself once again into the history books
24:05Nasir Hussain:I didn't realise your old man had his fast bowlers I used to play with Derek Pringle he used to cut his a hole for his toe to come through. I was so busy maybe watching the hand and trying to work out what came out of his hand. But he cut a hole in his boot as well.
24:20Athar Ahmed:Yeah, I was the same as you. I only found out recently as well when we were going through all of these items and it was Dad's brother, Uncle Jason, telling me why. And it was obviously when he had landed just because of how much his leg would spin. Right. That's why he'd need it.
24:33Jackson Warne:Right.
24:34Athar Ahmed:But yeah, it's a very common thing with the pace bowlers, isn't it?
24:36Jackson Warne:Yeah, absolutely. Another great moment from the MCG. his 700th test week here. So we're right at the end of his career here. And you must have been here for that game.
24:48Athar Ahmed:I was here for this game because we obviously knew Dad was retiring and I was six years old at the time and I was actually downstairs playing on my DS, playing Mario Kart when it happened, but we just heard the crowd absolutely erupt. And we've gone, I think that's because of the 700th. And I've actually had a few friends tell me they were at the game when Dad took the 700th because Dad used to say it was the loudest he'd ever heard the MCG. But sometimes, as you guys would know, when Dad was telling a story, he'd like to add a bit of mayonnaise. He'd like to exaggerate it. He'd like to exaggerate a little bit.
25:19Athar Ahmed:So, yes, I believed him, but there was a little bit of doubt. But to hear now from multiple friends that were at that game that said, no, that is definitely the loudest they've ever heard the MCG is a pretty cool experience because to have nearly 100 ,000 people in your hometown in front of your friends and family at the MCG, as dad would call it, his office or his backyard, to end his retirement career.
25:42Jackson Warne:It was a bizarre morning because it was a very, I don't know whether you remember, I called the wicket actually for Sky. I called the wicket for Sky, but it was a bizarre morning. It was damp, cold, I think overcast, the pitch was green, and the seamers should have been running through them, but they couldn't get any wickets, and then your old man came on and got Straussie immediately. It was uncanny, really, and it was a lovely ball. Actually, he got Strauss a few times, didn't he? Because he got him that great ball at Edgbaston.
26:12Nasir Hussain:I'm thinking at Edgbaston, the ball. I mean, Strauss played it horribly. He tried to kick it out of the rough, and it went through. And Bob was on commentary as well. Bob nailed that commentary moment. I can't remember exactly. He said, this man is incredible. This man is amazing. And that's what he was. He had Strauss' number. He had my number a few times, by the way.
26:30Athar Ahmed:Yeah, well, I saw Strauss described that perfectly because he said when Strauss went into bat, he said, right, I'm going to try and think what Shane's thinking of bowling to me. So he's like, okay, if I'm doing this, he's going to bowl leg side to here, but then Strauss would be like, hang on, if that's what I'm thinking, Dad's thinking I'm going to do the opposite. So all of a sudden he's thinking three or four steps ahead and then he goes, oh, I don't know what to do because he's thought four or five steps ahead and he just like, he couldn't face it. Dad was always playing chess when everybody else was playing checkers, but that's why Dad loved the psychology part of sport.
27:04Jackson Warne:700 for Shane Warne What a way to get there Slightly floated in the air Spinning through the gate from Andrew Strauss The MCG goes wild What a great scene Shane Warne at the G Ball aloft Into his fourth over Strauss is his 700th The noise is unbelievable Well, Nass, we've never been on an honours board so frequently. The dishonours board of Shane Warne. 300th club, it's a lovely piece of memorabilia, showing the ball he got his 300th wicket with, but all the people that he got out to get to 300 wickets. It's got all of his victims,
27:48Athar Ahmed:and I've actually seen you boys on here a few times. I've seen Atherton there at Manchester, 93. Atherton there at Laws, 93. I've seen both of you there in Nottingham, 93.
28:00Nasir Hussain:Athers won't be here, this side, because McGrath was getting him early on those things. He didn't face your dad by the end of his career. Yeah.
28:08Athar Ahmed:But you said you just never had a chance every time he had your number. Did you say you just couldn't figure it out?
28:12Nasir Hussain:Yeah, I love playing against you. You've got a few as well. You've got 100 against your dad. I love playing against your old man. It's why you play the game. You're 20-odd yards away and you've got this blonde-haired, zinked Australian with flared trousers, weight going in different directions in various Ashes series sledging you, he wouldn't say anything and you'd think, oh Shane's going to let me off today and you'd get up his end and say, Nass I've got you 22 times in your career mate or something it was the absolute, if you got runs against Shane, it was the best thing you could do but also he would be and I know it's a cliche but he literally would be there at the end of the day, first person shake your hand, well played, that was pretty good and then he'd get you out again, second time round
28:54Jackson Warne:there was a moment I remember actually when England lost the Ashes at Perth. I think it must have been 06-07, your dad's last series. And the moment of the Ashes, the Ashes winning moment is an unbelievable thing, obviously. And I remember it clearly because Australia were in the field the last week it went and all the Aussies virtually kind of got themselves into a hug and a huddle. But your dad went and shook hands with the two English batsmen in the middle before he joined the huddle. And it goes back to a little bit about the kind of the manners that you were talking about earlier well I think that's just
29:30Athar Ahmed:dad to an absolute tea he was the first person to say good game congratulations unlucky or good luck the first person to have a beer with you in the change rooms when it's all said and done but on the pitch gee he did not want to be facing against him because you were just like you guys said seeing that big man with the zinc and long hair and the weight all going around it would have been intimidating but it also would have been why cricket was fun and a lot of people have told me he made test cricket fun he made test cricket exciting in a sport where usually it's patient and goes for hours and hours as soon as dad was either bowling or he was involved in the game people were engaged people wanted to watch and listen to him but one thing i'd love to ask you guys what was it like facing the fizz because i only heard the fizz for the first time in like 2019 could you hear the res when you he was bowling too like through the air you could hear
30:18Jackson Warne:when he had the flipper in the early days you could hear the flick of the fingers because that's how he bowled. He kind of, so they would be almost like that. And definitely you'd get a kind of feeling of snap and fizz when you were at the non-strikers end. I don't know if you could hear it 22 yards away, but, you know, at the non-strikers end because he had very strong, you know, if you shook his hand. Massive hands. It's big, strong, fat hands. Big sausage fingers. Yeah, exactly.
30:43Athar Ahmed:And we used to think that was because of when Dad was a kid, he actually broke both of his wrists. So for months and months he was actually walking around crawling like a monkey on his wrists. So he just, yeah, I don't know if that was because of that, but he just naturally had big, really thick, strong hands. And we used to call them sausage fingers, like when you'd have a handshake, his fingers were just massive. But maybe that's why he was able to just grip the ball so much and spin it.
31:08Nasir Hussain:The one thing we haven't spoken about is his batting. He loved his batting, but obviously what we've got here, I think that's the helmet he was wearing at Perth when he got out to Daniel Vittori on the 99. He enjoyed his batting?
31:19Athar Ahmed:He loved his batting, but if you actually go back and look at the footage, the bowler actually, it was a no ball. His foot was over the line, but they paid him out. Dad was filthy. But he actually managed to spin like that 99 store into two things because he started a beer business called 99 Not Out, and it was a beer that he started. But the second was he actually, I'm pretty sure still to this day, has the most test runs without actually making a century. So even though Dad didn't make 100 and he was very angry that he didn't, he still managed to have a record from it. Only Dad could do that.
31:53Athar Ahmed:And make some money from it. And make some money from it. So, yeah, he was quite creative in that way.
31:58Jackson Warne:Well, last bit of memorabilia is the famous floppy. He often wore that floppy when the rest of the team were wearing a baggy green. He loved his floppy, but there's a lovely photo, isn't there, coming towards the end of his career at Sydney where he bows to the crowd.
32:11Athar Ahmed:He was bowing to the crowd saying, thank you for your support, tipping his floppy. But, yeah, you're right. He was always wanting to be a little bit different. He loved the baggy green, but he loved the floppy hat. And I think there's only a few photos where you can actually see Dad wearing the baggy green. But there's a really funny one when I think he was over in your guys' place at Wimbledon. And I don't know whose idea it was, but they said, all right, guys, to show England that we're here and that we mean business, we're going to go to Wimbledon and we're all going to wear the baggy green.
32:39Athar Ahmed:And Dad thought, guys, that is just that is the most bizarre idea. We can't be doing that. But there's a really funny photo of them all wearing the baggy green at Wimbledon. But you're right, Dad always wanted to be a little bit different, a little bit unique. And so he always chose to wear the floppy over the bag of green. But a really cool story with his bag of green. When in 2020 we were doing the bushfire appeal, he actually donated his bag of green, which got sold for over a million dollars. Got to it all around Australia and they actually raised nearly two million dollars. It was a gold coin donation to touch the bag of green, get a photo with it.
33:10Athar Ahmed:And so for it to be here next to the floppy, like it's, yeah, it's so special.
33:15Nasir Hussain:One difficult question for you. What do you think your dad, as a cricketer, would want to be remembered as and by? What was his proudest achievement or the way he played the game? What was he proud of?
33:27Athar Ahmed:I think he would love to have been remembered and known for in his legacy to be inspiring people to try leg spin. I know he came onto the scene and on the statue it says he revived the art of leg spin. I think for people all growing up now, it'll be unlucky for people in Australia to always constantly getting compared to, is this the next Shane Warne? Is this the next Shane Warne? But for so many kids, even after he's passed and even came up to him, even after he'd retired to be bowling leg spin and I bowl leg spin because of you, Dad. You're the reason I wanted to play cricket. I think that would be Dad's proudest legacy.
34:02Athar Ahmed:But I think between us, he'd love to be known as the greatest. I reckon that's what he'd love to be able to tell us. The greatest, I reckon that's what he'd love.
34:10Jackson Warne:Well, he's certainly one of, if not the, and from two of the worst leg spinners ever to have played the game. to the best. It's been an absolute pleasure to talk to you. And thank you so much for showing us around. First of all, memories of your dad. You must be a very proud son.
34:28Athar Ahmed:Super proud. And I know dad loved you guys. I know he'd love you guys looking at his collection. So thank you so much for coming.
34:35Nasir Hussain:Thanks for listening to the Sky Cricket podcast. If you found us during the ashes, we're here more or less every week throughout the year. So if you If you can stand Ath and I in your ears, then make sure you give this show a follow wherever you listen to your pods so that you don't miss out.
34:55Jackson Warne:The road to Super Bowl 60 has reached the playoffs and it's a wide open race to Santa Clara. I'm Neil Reynolds, the host of Sky Sports NFL podcast Inside the Huddle. All the way through the playoffs, I'll be joined by Jeff Reinbold and Phoebe Schechter to preview the games and analyse where they were won and lost. In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, we'll have daily episodes with the best build-up to the big game, and then we'll bring you immediate reaction moments after the champions have been crowned. Search for Inside the Huddle wherever you get your podcasts and give us a follow.
From the publisher
The late, great Shane Warne's personal memorabilia collection has been collated and turned into a new exhibition at the MCG.
Whilst in Melbourne, Nas and Ath were given a tour around the exhibition by Shane's son, Jackson Warne.
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