Flipper befuddles Richardson Second Test v West Indies — Melbourne Cricket Ground, 30 Dec 1992 Ad/> Before those of us in the Northern Hemisphere had seen him, he had already sown his legend. After getting a pasting in his debut from Ravi Shastri and co on his way to 1-150 he licked his wounds, but on his home pitch, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where he would produce so many memorable moments and have a statue built in his honour, he gave the first illustration of the generational talent on show. Figures of 7-52 in the fourth innings succumbing West Indies to a total of 219 tell their own tale, but it was the dismissal of Richie Richardson which started the demise and lingered longest in the memory, bamboozling the best batsman in the world at the time with a 'wrong un' leaving him plumb leg before.
For a decade and a half, the West Indies had dominated Australia and the rest of the world. They have not beaten Australia since, and it was no coincidence the turn came upon Warne's arrival. /> Cricket'Shane Warne was a massive idol of mine, it has shocked us all' — England captain Root11 HOURS AGO /> The Gatting Ball First Test v England — Old Trafford, 4 June 1993 For many of a certain generation, this was where it started.
Needless to say, there was no internet at this time. Even most big cricket fans had not seen him in action. We had read about this cricketer with beach-blonde hair and diamond stud earring.
A cricketer. And his skills were even more unworldy. His first ball in the oldest sporting contest in the world, drifted wildly beyond leg stump, then spun back viciously, beating Mike Gatting and clipping his leg stump.
The 'Ball of the Century'. His life would never be the same again. And nor would cricket.
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