Published: Feb 16, 2016, 03:32 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 16, 2016, 03:45 PM (IST)
From being banned for consumption of a banned substance to smoking while on a prohibiting contract to taking digs at former teammates of high stature to numerous sexual affairs, Shane Warne has made an image for himself as controversy’s favourite kid. A selective look at nine of those controversies that speckled the career of the spin maestro, who is also credited with reviving the art of leg-spin at a time when it was withering away. Warne’s life seems to be one complex enigma of numerous controversies. Warne, the man prolific with his wickets, was equally frequent in making headlines for controversies of various nature. ALSO READ: Shane Warne ridiculed over shirtless photo on Twitter
Banned substance controversy: Australia received a last minute shock just prior to ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa, when Shane Warne was disqualified from participation, owing to consumption of a banned substance. Warne admitted he had taken a ‘fluid tablet’ in order to get into shape (he even mentioned that his mother had asked him to), and claimed to be clueless about the presence of a banned substance in it. Warne was banned from cricket for an entire year. He took up commentary positions in the interim. Shane Warne: When controversy’s favourite child tested positive for a banned substance
Dealings with an Indian bookie: On their 1994 tour of Sri Lanka, Warne, along with teammate Mark Waugh, were found guilty of arrangements with an Indian bookie to reveal details of the pitch and weather prior to the match. The duo accepted hefty sums of money for letting out these details.
Caught smoking while on restrictive contract: In 2007 Warne was in a lucrative contract with Nicorette to stay away from smoking for a defined period. However, Warne could not contain his urge despite the nicotine patches. News broke across cricket fraternity when two young boys photographed Warne smoking in New Zealand, during a series there. Warne got into an altercation with the boys and demanded the picture off them. As per some accounts, Warne even swore at the teenagers, and on their refusal to hand over the picture, the controversial cricketer snatched it from them.
Jibes at Ricky Ponting: Warne did not take kindly to the criticisms Ricky Ponting made about Michael Clarke in his autobiography. Warne made the inexplicable claim that Ponting’s assertions stemmed out of ‘jealousy’. Ponting was a significantly more prolific scorer than Clarke and has one of the better averages in the history of Test cricket. According to Warne, Ponting was a poor captain on account of the fact that he remains the only Australian Test skipper to have led him team through three Ashes defeats.
Severe criticism of Steve Waugh: Warne developed a penchant to take digs at former players of equally significant stature. Early in 2016, on reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, Warne made disparaging statements about Steve Waugh, trying to paint him as a selfish cricketer. Warne’s animosity towards Waugh stems from the latter’s decision to drop him in the third Test in the 1999 tour of West Indies. RELATED: Shane Warne: Steve Waugh most selfish player I’ve played with
‘Dirty Talk’ with Donna Wright: In 2000, Warne was sacked as Australian Test vice-captain after reports surfaced of him nagging a Donna Wright, a British nurse, to have physical relations with him. Warne admitted to having ‘dirty talk’ with the nurse, but said she initiated the conversations.
Other sex controversies: Along with his hallmark as a clever leg-spinner, Warne made an equally strong, albeit less desirable, impression of himself as a sexually hyperactive person. Even while he was married and had kids, he pursued other women. In 2005, he was involved in such an act with Laura Sayers, and allegedly asked the British woman to join him in a foursome, involving Kevin Pietersen and his date. A similar controversy with stripper Angela Gallagher led to his separation with Simone Warne.
More sex controversies and end of Simone’s patience: After the initial separation, Simone was willing to give Warne a second chance, but Warne blew it when he mistakenly sent her a text message meant for one of his extramarital partners. This was the last straw for Simone, who decided to leave Warne for good. Warne was also involved in a threesome with two British models, both of whom enjoyed his performances in the bed and his penchant to experiment. Later, he was involved in a relationship with Liz Hurley, who dumped the cricketer when he was found to have an affair with a pornstar.
Rubbishing evolution theory: On the show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, Warne rubbished the evolution theory and instead suggested humans had originated from aliens. Warne offered cliched, ill-researched justification for his claim, asking if humans did evolve from monkeys, why did all monkeys not evolve.
(Rishad D’Souza, a reporter with CricketCountry, gave up hopes of playing Test cricket after a poor gully-cricket career. He now reports on the sport. You can follow @RDcric on Twitter)
