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Cricket stars hail wizard Warne Cricket stars hail wizard Warne
(about 1 hour later)
Leading cricketers have spoken of their admiration for Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne, who will retire as Test cricket's leading wicket-taker.Leading cricketers have spoken of their admiration for Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne, who will retire as Test cricket's leading wicket-taker.
Commentator and former Australia captain and Richie Benaud said Warne's departure would leave a void.Commentator and former Australia captain and Richie Benaud said Warne's departure would leave a void.
"People keep telling me there are plenty of leggies down the road, but they're not experienced enough."People keep telling me there are plenty of leggies down the road, but they're not experienced enough.
"They haven't been given the opportunities - I think there's going to be a big gap," he said."They haven't been given the opportunities - I think there's going to be a big gap," he said.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Watch Warne's wonder ball to Gatting onClick="javascript:launchAVConsoleStory('6196825'); return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Report: Warne confirms retirement after Ashes onClick="javascript:launchAVConsoleStory('6197013'); return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Archive: Warne's wonder ball to Gatting
New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee said the sport would not be the same after Warne's departure.New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee said the sport would not be the same after Warne's departure.
"A lot of batsmen in world cricket will be delighted to learn he's leaving the game, but I think the game will be poorer without him.""A lot of batsmen in world cricket will be delighted to learn he's leaving the game, but I think the game will be poorer without him."
"He has been a match-winner, flamboyant and just incredible to watch.""He has been a match-winner, flamboyant and just incredible to watch."
Damien Fleming, a fellow World Cup winner in 1999, said: "He is one of the greatest cricketers of all time and we will never see his like again."Damien Fleming, a fellow World Cup winner in 1999, said: "He is one of the greatest cricketers of all time and we will never see his like again."
England's Paul Collingwood, who was dismissed by Warne on his Ashes debut in 2005, said: "In cricketing terms he is the ultimate legend. He's probably the best bowler there has ever been on this planet.England's Paul Collingwood, who was dismissed by Warne on his Ashes debut in 2005, said: "In cricketing terms he is the ultimate legend. He's probably the best bowler there has ever been on this planet.
Mark Taylor, Australia captain from 1994-99, said the spin wizard's larger-than-life character is key to his success.Mark Taylor, Australia captain from 1994-99, said the spin wizard's larger-than-life character is key to his success.
"Not only is he a great bowler but he's also a great thinker," he said. "He got a lot of people out with wonderful deliveries but also out-thought a lot.""Not only is he a great bowler but he's also a great thinker," he said. "He got a lot of people out with wonderful deliveries but also out-thought a lot."
Former selector Allan Border, who skippered Warne when he first emerged in dramatic fashion during the Ashes tour of England in 1993, thought the match-winner could still play on for several seasons.Former selector Allan Border, who skippered Warne when he first emerged in dramatic fashion during the Ashes tour of England in 1993, thought the match-winner could still play on for several seasons.
"It's just caught everyone by surprise," Border said. "He's in superb touch, he's bowling well, physically he's very well."It's just caught everyone by surprise," Border said. "He's in superb touch, he's bowling well, physically he's very well.
"I just got the inkling that he was even considering one more tilt at England in England and that would see him out.""I just got the inkling that he was even considering one more tilt at England in England and that would see him out."
Border was also captain when Warne made his Test debut against India at Sydney in January 1992 and recalled: "There was something special about him, right from the word go."Border was also captain when Warne made his Test debut against India at Sydney in January 1992 and recalled: "There was something special about him, right from the word go."
Former Aussie paceman Geoff Lawson was also surprised by the decision and felt Warne could have broken even more records.Former Aussie paceman Geoff Lawson was also surprised by the decision and felt Warne could have broken even more records.
"I thought he still had a couple of years left in him and I thought he was good for a thousand Test wickets," Lawson said."I thought he still had a couple of years left in him and I thought he was good for a thousand Test wickets," Lawson said.
"Without Shane Warne, Australia would not be 3-0 up in the [current] series."Without Shane Warne, Australia would not be 3-0 up in the [current] series.
"They might have won one but they wouldn't have won in Adelaide or Perth without him and if he's going to go out then I suppose it's best to go out on a high.""They might have won one but they wouldn't have won in Adelaide or Perth without him and if he's going to go out then I suppose it's best to go out on a high."
Australia selector Merv Hughes, another former team-mate of Warne, joined the tributes.Australia selector Merv Hughes, another former team-mate of Warne, joined the tributes.
"Whatever you say about Shane Warne it isn't enough," Hughes said."Whatever you say about Shane Warne it isn't enough," Hughes said.
"There are memories all through his career, most people go through a purple patch and Shane Warne has had a purple patch for 15 of 16 years.""There are memories all through his career, most people go through a purple patch and Shane Warne has had a purple patch for 15 of 16 years."