Pat Cummins pays poetic tribute to Shane Warne on his birthday

Australian Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has honored the late Shane Warne with a moving poetic tribute on the eve of what would have been Warne’s 55th birthday. 

In a heartfelt video shared by cricket.com.au, Cummins recited a poem that celebrated Warne's remarkable career and the impact he had on the world of cricket.

Cummins reflected on Warne's unique bowling style and his ability to mesmerize batters with his skillful deliveries. He also expressed regret that Warne never served as Australia’s full-time captain. 

"For where to start with Shane Keith Warne, the other worldly gift. We could talk about the wicked spin, the endless flight, the drift. We could talk about the wickets, the bluster, the guile. We could talk about the character, the look, the hair, the smile. We could talk about the charisma. We could talk about the drama, the travail, and the strife. We could talk about the slider, the legbreak, and the flipper. We could contemplate a world in which he was a full-time Aussie skipper," Cummins said in the poem.

Cummins also highlighted the void Warne's passing has left in the cricketing world but urged fans to celebrate his legacy. 

"The wickets we can tally up but the emotions we can't measure up, the feelings, the feelings he stirred in us, the simple sense of pleasure. A chubby blonde in cricket whites, he took up the ball in 12 and in 15 years, he cast his spell on the cricket world. He was just a bloke, extraordinary, fallible, and flawed. It meant he felt like one of us, made him all the more adored, which is why he left us grappling, left the cricket world defeated

"From Launceston to the Long Room, we've all been left depleted. But flip that thought and think instead how enriched we are by Warne. Let's salute a pure entertainer and to the greatest bowler ever born," Cummins concluded.

Warne, who passed away from a cardiac arrest in Thailand on March 4, 2022, was a legendary figure in cricket. His death shocked the sports community, and he was remembered in a state memorial service at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 30, which was attended by over a million Australians.