Cricket146;s ultimate spin doctor

Shane Warne was in perfect shape for his last World Cup. The tall glasses of beer, bags of potato chips, slices of pizza were on his banned ...

Shane Warne was in perfect shape for his last World Cup. The tall glasses of beer, bags of potato chips, slices of pizza were on his banned list.

The gym and nets had become his permanent base stations with the waistline showing a drop in size 8212; from 368221; to 328221; 8212; and the weighing machine reading going back by 12 kgs!

Did you know?
8226; The alleged payment made to Warne by one Asian bookie for pitch information was A1,000, less that what was paid to Mark Waugh
8226; When top golfer Nick Faldo met Warne at a dinner in Melbourne last month he asked the Aussie great to sign a napkin for his son who8217;s a wicketkeeper. Warne obliged with an essay
8226; Promised 128,000 for staying off cigarettes, Warne was caught smoking on camera during the tour of New Zealand by a teen spectator. Warne snatched the camera, the kid8217;s dad got wild and threatened to sue
8226; Once, as part of the famous pre-Ashes Australian pressure tactics, Warne boasted of perfecting a rare delivery that would spin back towards him after pitching. It was a bluff but had the paranoid English on edge for quite a while
Greatest WC moment
Warne took some time to warm up in the last World Cup but when he did, in the semi-final against South Africa, it was with devastating effect. He had figures of 4/29 in that match, then followed it up with 4/33 in the final against Pakistan. Two Man of the Match awards in the two most important games

But on December 15, six weeks before the big date in South Africa, world cricket8217;s most prized shoulder got dislocated.

Australia shuddered, sponsors went cold and organisers rushed for their aspirins. Thankfully, Warne8217;s back on track, turning up for his state side Victoria, tweak firmly in tow. And so the worries can go back where they belong, to the faces of all the batsmen who have to face him.

He8217;s in his twilight, sure, and easer to read now than in his pomp. But he8217;s known to turn it on for the big occasion. And they don8217;t come any bigger than this.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More