Shane Warne, the iconic Australian spin maestro, marked his Test debut on this day in 1992, against India in Sydney. In his first game, he finished with figures of 1/150 in the third match of the series. Despite a lacklustre display in the fourth Test at Adelaide with figures of 0/78, Warne persisted in refining his skills after being dropped for the fifth Test, learning valuable lessons from his maiden tour.

He then made significant adjustments to his bowling action, showcasing resilience and determination throughout his career. These efforts laid the foundation for his ascent to become the greatest leg-spin bowler in the history of cricket. In his glorious career, he took part in 145 Test matches, where he claimed 708 wickets, securing the second-highest position (in terms of wickets so far) in the format, trailing only behind Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan. With 37 five-wicket hauls in red-ball cricket, Warne’s legacy is further solidified as one of the game’s all-time greats.

A moment etched in cricket history is Warne’s sole hat-trick at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground during the second Test of the 1994/95 Ashes tour. This achievement followed his career-best performance of 8/71 in the second innings of the first Test at the Gabba. He is also the highest run-scorer without a century (3154 runs in 199 innings), with a career-best of 99.

Tragically, the cricket world mourned the loss of Warne, who passed away at the age of 52 on March 7, 2022, while on holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand. His legacy endures, and he will forever be remembered as the greatest leg-spinner and entertainer the sport has ever witnessed.