Celebrity Featured: Shane Warne
Artist: Peter Smeeth
Chair Donor: diywoman
Fabric Donor: Warwick Fabrics
About Shane Warne
Shane Warne made his first class cricket debut during the 1990/91 season for Victoria, and is widely considered to be the world's #1 spin bowler. He is a leg spinner, whose achievements on the field are unparalleled.
His Test debut came in December 1991, after excellent performances in the domestic competition. While his debut test was unremarkable (taking just one wicket), however a 3/11 spell against Sri Lanka at Colombo the next year made marked his arrival to the test scene. His performance of 7/52 in a match winning performance against the Windies in the 1992/93 series in Melbourne solidified his place in the Test team.
In March 2004, he became the second only bowler to take 500 Test wickets when he dismissed Hashan Tillakaratne (Sri Lanka). He then went on to become the only bowler to ever take 200 Test wickets during the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford in 2005, dismissing Marcus Trescothick. He also holds the record for bowler to take the most wickets in a calendar year with 96 in 2005.
In 2000, Shane Warne was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Century. He was listed fourth, behind Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Jack Hobbs. He was listed above Sir Viv Richards. He is also one of just two players to be listed in "Richie Benaud's Greatest XI" in 2004 who are still playing today (the other being Adam Gilchrist).
In 2005 he was named as the winner of the BBC Sports Overseas Personality of the Year for his performance in the 2005 Ashes and this year he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Southampton Solent University for services to cricket. He has made guest appearances on the popular Australian TV show Neighbours.