REMEMBERING WARNIE

“I didn’t mind the odd cigar and a glass of red after a few beers. You know, just enjoy the moment and take it all in.”

OK, Shane, let’s get the cricket talk out of the way first. What is your greatest Ashes memory?

Beating England 5-0 in Australia in 2006-07. My last ever series playing international cricket and to beat the old enemy in a whitewash, and pull their pants down, was a lot of fun. Individually, my favourite highlight was bowling the Mike Gatting delivery in 1993, which was a bloody long time ago now! To do that in a first Ashes tour, first ball in England in a first Ashes Test, was pretty cool.

Did you always want to be a professional sports star?

I actually always wanted to be a professional [AFL] footballer and had three years at St Kilda Football Club. Unfortunately, they released me in 1988 so I had a year off, went to England in 1999, and basically got back and played cricket for Australia 18 months later. So, cricket sort of found me.

And, obviously, you learnt to love it?

It actually bored me in the summer. I just wanted to be