On the first anniversary of Shane Warne’s tragic death, some of the best stories about the cricket legend are only just coming to light, as his son Jackson makes an emotional tribute.
On the first anniversary of Shane Warne’s tragic death, some of the best stories about the cricket legend are only just coming to light, as his son Jackson makes an emotional tribute.
One of those stories has been revealed in an interview 2GB radio broadcaster Ben Fordham had with Warne’s former boss at Channel 9’s Wide World of Sports, Tom Malone.
In an insightful and humorous interview, Malone who headed up the Nine Network’s cricket coverage in the last years of its four-decade association with the game, that started with Kerry Packer’s foray into World Series Cricket, shared some of his favourite memories of Warne.
Saturday marks the first anniversary of the spin king’s death after he passed away due to a heart attack in Thailand on March 4, last year.
Malone spoke of Warne’s close relationship with the late Kerry Packer, Nine’s longtime boss and cricket tragic. And of the time Packer organised for Warne to further his career as a sports newsreader.
Which was far less successful than his on field career.
“Warnie was very fond of the Packer family and Kerry took Shane under his wing,” Malone said.
“Warnie got a spot as the 11am sports newsreader in Melbourne one day and the way he told the story was that right after his spot finished he got a call from Kerry who said ‘ you better stick to spin bowling, you don’t have a career in news reading.’ And that was that.”
Malone also recalled the time Packer lent Warne a phone to use on a tour of India early on in his career.
“Warnie was so generous, that he lent it to all his teammates and the bill for the whole tour of India was $50,000, so Kerry Packer decided he wouldn’t be lending him a phone again,” Malone said.
But Malone, who is now Managing Director – Radio for Nine saved his best for last when telling how a sausage roll and a chocolate milk was Warne’s go-to when he needed a pick-me-up after a late night.
Malone said he had been warned by Nine commentator and former Aussie cricket captain Ian Chappell that even though the likes of Warne, Mark Taylor and Ian Healy might be his sporting heroes, he would still have to pull them into line from time to time as their boss.
Those words were ringing in Malone’s ears when he walking into the commentary box one morning at the Gabba in Brisbane and Warne was asleep at the back after a late night.
“I turned up to work and Warnie was asleep,” Malone told Fordham.
“And I thought ‘oh no’ what am I going to have to do here’.
“But Healy and Chappell both said that he was fine, he’s just had a couple of late night commitments.
“And sure enough at the allotted time, they tapped Warne on the shoulder and woke him up, gave him a sausage roll and a chocolate Oak and you know what the first thing he said was?
“He said: ‘I can tell you what they are doing wrong here’ and he turned around and winked at everyone and then gave the best half-hour of commentary you have ever heard because he just intuitively understood the game better than anyone.”
Fordham replied: “So, a sausage roll and a chocolate Oak was the secret of Warne’s success.”
Malone’s interview came as Warne’s son Jackson posted an emotional tribute on social media to mark the one-year anniversary.
“1 year ago today. Miss you mate, love Jacko,” Jackson Warne captioned the video post.
In the video Shane Warne was asked how he wanted to be remembered: “Loved by Brooke, Jackson and Summer,” Warne replied, in referencing his three children.
Originally published as How a sausage roll saved Shane Warne