Srinivas Padma: Personal Musings on Life, Growth, and Connections

As lists go, it is understandable if Shane Warne's top 50 (published by the Times, UK ) is even more subjective than authors generally are when tackling people and events in a large time frame like a long cricket career. The list is also very cheeky, which is quite in keeping with the show boat leg spinner's character. While there could have been only a 50:50 argument over whether Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara would head the Victorian's list, his treatment of contemporary Australian greats has made this typically, to invent a word, "Warnesque". Steve Waugh , Test cricket's most successful captain who also won one World Cup for Australia, is rated a lowly No. 26. The "Ice Man" captained Warne in some of his most productive years. Yet, under the surface there must have been such tensions in a team that rolled on like a juggernaut through 16 successive Test wins. The passage of time may heal most fissures. Warne is, however, a different kettle

SPIN-KING STEPS DOWN - Test cricket’s greatest bowler Shane Warne announced his retirement from international competition on Thursday, drawing the curtain on one of the most celebrated careers in the sport’s history. Saying he wanted to go out on top, the 37-year-old Australian legspinner with a world record 699 Test wickets revealed the two remaining Ashes Tests against England will be his last international matches. “It’s been unbelievable — my ride in international cricket’s been phenomenal,” an upbeat Warne told a packed media conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Warne said he had also retired from Australian domestic cricket but will see out the remaining two years of his contract with English county side Hampshire. Fast bowler Glenn McGrath is also tipped to announce his retirement soon, while batsmen Damien Martyn quit suddenly just before the third Ashes Test. Warne said he had considered retiring after the 2005 Ashes but decided to press on after Australia’s shock loss