Warnie - First Season

My special guest is, quite simply, special.

He's the great spin bowler of them all.

Some would go further

and declare him the greatest cricketer

to have played the game.

And that assessment would accommodate his gift

as an entertainer as much as his skill as a bowler.

Spin bowling is a magic trick.

Warnie's struck. What a wicket this is for Australia.

When you create something that isn't there.

Or is it?

Gatting can't believe his eyes.

I created chaos.

Absolutely brilliant from Shane Warne.

And I became famous as a great magician.

If we see his like again, we'll be very lucky.

The fact is he's unique, he's irreplaceable.

Ladies and gentlemen, Shane Warne.

Did you want to be famous when you were a young kid?

I'd never thought about being famous.

Didn't you? No.

It was good fun for about ten days or a couple of months,

but it sort of wore off pretty quick.

We're just hearing the very sad news

that the former Australian leg spinner,

Shane Warne, has died suddenly.

A legendary cricketer...

Shane Warne,

cricket's best spin bowler the world's ever seen.

But he was more than that.

A father, a commentator, a larrikin and an Australian icon.

They gave me a state memorial.

Me, a boy from Black Rock.

The time has come to farewell Shane Keith Warne

in body, but never spirit.

Thousands and thousands of people showed up.

You had rock stars, film stars,

some of the biggest names in the world.

And just, you know,

everyday people from every walk of life.

Oh, I mean, it was mind-blowing.

And now, the Shane Warne Stand,

the stand of the people.

I was given Queen's Birthday honours.

It was like a knighthood for being a role model.

A role model. Oh!

They were her words, not mine. Amazing.

'Cause, you know, it wasn't always like that for me.

Shane Warne and Mark Waugh have formally admitted

that they were paid for information...

Information they gave to an Indian bookmaker.

But the pair deny any involvement in match fixing or bribery.

Tarnished forever as a drug cheat,

Warne says it was given to him by his mother

so he would look better for the cameras.

Shane Warne is almost certainly coming home

from the World Cup.

His forced departure from South Africa after sex

and betting controversies.

The woman who may have killed off Shane Warne's dream

of ever becoming Australian cricket captain.

The issue is a private matter between Warne, his wife

and the woman in question.

Shane Warne has been caught out getting cosy,

this time with Liz Hurley.

The UK tabloid, News of the World...

Villain one day, saint the next.

And yet no matter what, I always pulled a crowd.

So, how does that happen,

and what does that say about you guys?

You think my life was all glitz and glamour?

Think again.

In 1999, I was on the ropes.

Oh!

Post-surgery, out of form. My confidence was down.

I was a mess.

Shane, you in there?

It was Steve Waugh's first test series as Captain.

They smashed us out there today.

Oh, you know, we had a bad spell.

A 300-run partnership's not a bad spell,

it's a bloody disaster.

How's your shoulder. It's fine, right?

You just focus on your own problems, like, um, I don't know,

coming up with a plan, Captain.

A complete rebuild of your shoulder,

you can't expect to jump straight back in after that...

Oh, what, are you a doctor now?

No, I'm just concerned.

Don't be. You know, I'm good.

Well, pizza'll fix it.

Well, I can't smoke.

I signed that legally binding contract,

so, I'm sticking this in my mouth instead.

Is that alright, Doc?

Guess so.

Hey, we just need to stay calm.

We can win this Test.

Yeah, right.

Did I mention also,

I'm up against the best batsman on earth.

Brian Lara.

Imagine your worst day at the office,

and it's shown live on TV, all around the world.

I was trying to stay positive.

Oh, you are so hot.

You are gorgeous.

I wish you were here right now.

OK, there's a lot been said about this,

so, here we go.

Yes, I like women.

Yes, I dated one of the most beautiful women in the world.

In fact, I married her.

Her name's Simone.

I'm the size of a house, my hair's a disaster

and Brooke here has vomited all down my front.

Oh, Brookie. How's my girl?

Yeah, she's good. Brookie, it's Dadda. Say hi.

Say hi, Dadda.

Hi, Dadda. Hi, Daddy.

Hi.

Oh, I'm over being pregnant.

It won't be long now.

God, I wish I was there with you.

Oh, you could sneak away.

Jump on a plane. Nobody'd know.

Oh, I think they might notice if they didn't...

Oh! You right?

Yeah. Yeah. Just a bit of a twinge.

Is it your shoulder? Shane, you need to stop using it.

Oh, that might be a bit difficult.

Hey, Sim, I might have to let you go.

I love you. Love ya, Brookie!

Love ya. Are you going to say bye Dadda?

Say bye Dadda.

Bye Dadda. Bye.

See ya.

Can we just give it a rest for a minute?

Thanks.

I was in a world of hurt.

Oh!

There was one thing that might help.

Not a doctor, not a drug.

Hey, it's me.

Yeah, well, I'm sorry but I'm desperate.

I need you here. Huh?

Could you just to Barbados, alright?

Please?

TJ.

Friend, bowling coach and Yoda, all rolled into one.

You want a life story,

TJ had been to hell and out the other side.

Get your wrist up higher.

Can't.

It's just...

Pain? Or fear of pain?

I don't know. Both?

You're not bowling the flipper a whole lot.

Yeah, well, that one hurts,

and I don't want them to see me struggling.

Come on, spin it up.

For those of you who think the flipper's some kind of dolphin,

let me explain.

You can spin the ball two ways...

one, with your fingers, finger spin,

or with spin, where you use your whole wrist,

which is what I do.

With your wrist, it's way harder to control the ball,

but it's beautiful.

Just the sound alone.

You can hear it fizz through the air.

Then, you've got options.

You can change the angle, speed,

the amount of spin, the direction of spin.

You can change your grip, which I did.

And swerve, late curve.

I could make it drift, or lift.

Bounce it high, or slide it in low.

It's all about the feel. The rhythm.

The rhythm and the feel.

The drive of the hips, the point of release.

The redness on the ball, rhythm and feel,

it's kinda like rock and roll.

What do you reckon?

Yeah.

Yeah? What's that mean?

It means yeah, good one. Good luck.

TJ, seriously, if I don't find some form soon,

I can hear the critics.

You know, "He's had surgery on the shoulder,

"he's not the player he was."

Blah, blah, blah...

That's your problem right there, the voices in your head.

You gotta get your mind right.

You off the smokes? Yeah, 12 weeks. Not a puff.

Excellent.

That's it?

That's the only positive you can find, I'm not smoking?

A few months before that, I'd been offered money.

200 grand to quit smoking.