The day the music died

I

My student Monir, a Lecturer in Economics at Bangladesh University of Professionals, dropped me a line, "Sir, did you see the news? Shane Warne died."

All deaths are unexpected. Some are so unexpected, they are unacceptable. Warnie, as he was fondly called, was one such death.

That same day, March 4, 2022, Rodney Marsh of Australia passed away. He was 74. I started actively following cricket in 1985/86. Rod Marsh played his last Test in 1984. I also missed Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, who retired near to Rod Marsh.

Rod Marsh took 343 catches and made 12 stumps in Tests. Dennis Lillee also took 355 wickets in Tests. I can tell more stories about the Australian sides that included the trio, but that would be an academic exercise, not one that I experienced. Warnie was different, though.

II

I was born in 1970. This makes Saeed Anwar (1968), Michael Atherton (1968), Brian Lara (1969), Shane Warne (1969), Waqar Younis (1971), Muttiah Muralitharan (1972), Sachin Tendulkar (1973), and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1974) special to me. This generation is my generation.

Every individual has a chauvinism to their own generation. I am no exception. I have a chauvinism to these players from my generation because I grew up with them. Still, Warnie was different.

III

When it comes to the Ashes, I support England. I spent my childhood and a part of my youth in the UK. Supporting the team that the Aussies call POM (Prisoners of His/Her Majesty) comes natural to me.

In my generation of Ashes, all England supporters have a love-hate relationship with Warnie. From the "ball of the century" bowled to Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes at Old Trafford to his forty wickets in the 2005 Ashes that England ultimately won, Warnie was always the threat. Still, Warnie was different.

West Indies is my ultimate Test team. And Warnie was the only Aussie with whom I could identify. I still do not find a parallel to this day with Aussies. Warnie had that West Indies spirit. Fierce on the field, carefree off it. Yes, some of his carefree experiences did land him into trouble, but that was Warnie. Love him or hate him, you could never but be amazed with him.

IV

I missed Warnie's stint in the IPL. I do not follow franchise cricket. However, in commentary is where I will miss Warnie the most. I grew up listening to the commentary of Henry Blofeld, Tony Cozier, and Richie Benaud in the days of radio. Warnie, to me, came closest to that commentary, adding to it his honesty to call a spade a spade.

If there is one Aussie England supporters would have loved were theirs, it was Warnie. Ask the Barmy Army, they will tell you. Warnie's untimely departure makes Dylan's lines "Life is so easy to look at; hard to define" shine. Warnie is now in a good place. May he rest in peace.

Note: The "chauvinism" quote is from Ramachandra Guha, a leading writer on cricket from India.

Asrar Chowdhury is a professor of economics. He follows Test cricket, listens to music, and spins vinyls when he has free time. Email: [email protected] or [email protected]