Ricky Ponting said he was shaken by the news of Shane Warne’s demise, adding that he is not being able to process it. Warne and Ponting shared a wonderful rapport having been part of several memorable victories for Australia.
Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting were friends on and off the field (AFP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Shane Warne passed away on March 4 due to a suspected heart attack
- Ponting said the news of Warne’s demise was ‘so raw’
- Ponting and Warne were part of several memorable Australian victories
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting broke down as he was recalling his memories with good friend and former teammate Shane Warne, who died due to a suspected heart attack on Friday, March 4. Speaking to Isha Guha for ICC TV, Ponting discussed the bond he shared with the legendary leg-spinner and how he wants to carry forward the legacy of the cricket great.
Shane Warne passed away at a Thailand villa during his personal trip to the Asian nation, sending shockwaves through the cricket fraternity. Ponting said he snatched the phone from his wife who told him about the news of his former teammate passing away. The celebrated captain said he was not able to believe the news and was in a state of shock.
Warne played 34 Tests under Ponting’s captaincy and picked up 200 wickets out of his total of 708. The two cricketers shared a wonderful rapport. The two were part of multiple Ashes-winning campaigns and were part of the World Cup-winning team in 1999.
Ponting said he is not able to digest the news of Warne’s demise, shedding light on how difficult it is to hear his voice on television whenever the leg-spinner’s clips are played.
“I woke up nice and early I was getting the kids ready to go to netball and Rianna (Ponting’s wife) looked at her phone and told me the news about Warney,” Ponting told the ICC.
“I grabbed the phone out of her hand to look at it and I couldn’t believe it and it is still the same now. It was so raw to me I couldn’t really speak and every time I thought about him and our experiences and our journey together and I just got short for words.
“Even today I have had the TV on watching the tributes, but every time I hear his voice I have to turn it off.”
‘I WISH I HAD SAID IT TO HIM’
Meanwhile, Ponting revealed his only regret with regards to Warne, adding that the two used to meet up for occasional golf sessions as they shared the same Melbourne suburb.
“I would say just how much I love him,” Ponting added.
“I didn’t say that to him and I wish I did.”
