Highlights:
- Cricket legend Shane Warne has died of a suspected heart attack.
- Warne’s manager James Erskine said in a statement early Saturday that Warne was found unresponsive in his villa, and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived.
- Warne is regarded as one of the greatest players ever, claiming 708 Test wickets at an average of 25.41 in 145 matches.
Cricket legend Shane Warne has died at the age of 52, his manager James Erskine said in a statement early on Saturday. The former test leg spinner was found unresponsive in his vila in Thailand after a suspected heart attack, Erskine said.
Warne is survived by three children - Jackson, Brooke and Summer.
Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Warne could not be revived, Australian media quoted Erskine as saying.
Warne is regarded as one of the greatest players ever, claiming 708 Test wickets at an average of 25.41 in 145 matches. He is the highest Australian wicket-taker and the second-highest in the history of test cricket.
In 2013, Warne was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and was named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Century, alongside Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Jack Hobbs and Sir Vivian Richards.
Warne was a key figure in Australia’s 1999 World Cup victory and won six Ashes series between 1992 and 2007.
After his retirement in 2007, Warne served as a commentator for both Channel 9 and Fox Cricket.
The devastating news comes less than 24 hours after former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh passed away after suffering a heart attack last week.