The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Warne keeps date with history

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Saturday, Oct 16, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Warne keeps date with history

By S. Dinakar

A RUN-FEAST AND A RECORD: Whatever the outcome of the second Test between India and Australia at Chepauk, it will always remain memorable for Virender Sehwag and Shane Warne. While Sehwag (Top Photo) signalled a timely return to form with a crowd-pleasing 155, Warne _ acknowledging his team-mates' cheers _ moved past Muttiah Muralitharan to become the sole owner of the record for maximum number of Test wickets. - Photos: V.V. Krishnan

CHENNAI, OCT. 15. It was appropriate that this blond, green-eyed charmer with a thousand-watt smile and a bowling arm that can conjure major cricketing turnarounds should embrace a Test world bowling record on a day of fluctuating fortunes at the Chidambaram Stadium.

Much of Shane Warne's career has been an interplay of the light and the shadow — soaring on a magic carpet one moment, finding himself in a seemingly endless tunnel the next, the toast of a nation one moment, in the eye of a storm the next.

The second day of the second Test twisted and turned like a Hitchcock thriller, with the match changing stripes from a period of Indian dominance to an Australian revival in the last session before Mohammad Kaif and Parthiv Patel swung the game again in India's favour.

In Warne's journey too, the scripts have not always been predictable, and he indeed has gone through a whole gamut of emotions, travelling along the cricketing highway.

It was a moment of triumph for Warne when the leg-spinner snared the left-handed Irfan Pathan after drawing him forward - it was his 533rd Test wicket in his 114th Test, taking him beyond Lankan off-spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan's tally of 532 (in 91 Tests).

Peering down on a 14-year journey in international cricket, Warne admitted, "I have learnt a lot of lessons over the years. I've made a few choices that went wrong." At 35, and with a family, he has matured.

Debut Test

The evening of his monumental achievement, television cameras whirred, the photographers took vantage positions, and reporters had pen out of pocket, as Warne reflected on his feat. "It is a proud moment for me," he said and then looked down the road, on his Test debut against India in the Sydney Test of 1991-92.

That was a match when the then rookie leg-spinner sent down 45 overs and ended up with one wicket, conceding 150 runs. "I have come a long way since then," he said. Indeed, he has, and the following years would be very eventful with Warne's huge leg-spinners, deadly flippers, potent top-spinners and a not so frequent googly, coupled with his bounce and fizz off the pitch making him one of the biggest match-winners — he has an incredible eight ten-wicket and 27 five-wicket hauls in Tests.

And on Friday, Warne kept his appointment with a huge slice of cricketing history. In his moment of glory, he put team over self. "It is more important that Australia wins this Test. Otherwise the World record would come as a downer."

Entertainer supreme

At heart, Warne remains an entertainer who easily cuts across barriers, and in the post-tea session, when the Test was in the balance, the Chennai crowd chanted "Warnie, Warnie," as the legendary leg-spinner took his spot in the deep.

THE MOMENT: Shane Warne became the highest wicket taker in Tests when he had Irfan Pathan caught at slip by Matthew Hayden. - Photo: R. Ragu

This was an astonishing response from the spectators — another feather in the cap of the discerning Chennai audience — who could stretch their minds beyond mere boundaries, and greet a champion cricketer.

Warne responded to the cheers by doffing his hat. In fact, so delighted was he by the overwhelming response, that fresh juices of energy appeared to be flowing through his veins — he hit imaginary strokes into the stands, bowled a couple of deliveries, apart from threatening to dance and jive!

This is the essential Warne for you — full of laughter and joy. "You get whacked around a bit, you take wickets, it is entertainment for the crowd."

Fascinating race

In the days ahead, the race between him and Muralitharan is bound to turn fascinating, and the Lankan is sure to be snapping at Warne's heels. "I'll enjoy it while it lasts," was Warne's typical response.

Indeed, he is the kind who would rather enjoy the moment. And it was his day of destiny at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Warne appreciated the gesture of the members of the spinning tribe, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, who were quick to congratulate him.

The second day did not quite belong to Australia, but Warne felt this was the best he had bowled at the Indians in India. "I created the half-chances, created the pressure," he said, even while mulling over the dropped catches that could drill holes in the Australian boat.

Things do change in life, but Warne said, the sheer feeling of achieving the world record would forever reside in his mind. Indeed, a lifetime can be a day.

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