One of the best players that the game has seen is Shane Warne. The legendary cricketer overcame all the odds to become a successful player and a role model for many generations to come. In March 2022, Shane Warne passed away due to cardiac arrest. There are a few records by Warne that are almost impossible to break. Here, we take a look at four records of Shane Warne that might not be broken in the near future.
1) Most Test wickets in a calendar year – 96 (2005)
In 2005, Shane Warne collected 96 Test wickets. This feat also included 40 wickets in the Ashes. It was a stunning year for the legendary leg-spinner.
In the current era, due to the World Test Championship, there are only limited Tests that a player plays. Therefore, even getting close to the record is a big thing. To provide context, Kagiso Rabada picked the highest Test wickets in 2022 and his number of 47, less than half of Warne’s record.
2) Most career wickets by a leg-spinner – 1001
To take the most career wickets by a leggie is one of the records of Shane Warne that might not be broken in the near future. Leg spinners are losing relevance in Tests in recent years. There are very few leg-spinners, who do consistently well in Test cricket.
Therefore, taking 1000 career wickets is almost impossible for any leggie at the moment. Shane Warne did all of this while playing in Australia, where nations are not exactly suitable for the spinners. Rashid Khan has the pedigree but Afghanistan hardly plays Tests and without being a part of the red-ball format, the player cannot come close to the record.
3) Most Test runs without a century – 3154
In 145 Tests, Warne scored 3154 runs. Interestingly, despite his decent skills with the willow, the former Australian skipper did not score a century. His highest score was 99 and he scored 12 fifties in his career.
Yes, Niroshan Dickwella is close to the record but considering the demands of Test cricket, he could be dropped if he does not do well in the coming days. This statistic by Shane Warne is not a record exactly but it is one list that many would find hard to displace him at No.1.
4) The only Head Coach cum Captain to win an IPL
Being the only coach cum captain to win an IPL is also one of the records of Shane Warne that might not be broken in the near future. Interestingly, in 2008, Shane Warne was named as both the Head Coach and captain of Rajasthan Royals. As we know, he won the IPL that season.
In the current era, ageing players are not given a chance to captain an IPL franchise, unless they are extra-ordinary like MS Dhoni. If they captain the team, too, it is very unlikely to also occupy the slot of ‘Head Coach’. These days, franchises opt for an appointment such that there is full focus on the coaching job. Hence, the achievement by Shane Warne is special and it is doubtful if anyone would break it.
