The cricket world is in shock, as legend Shane Warne dies of a suspected heart attack

Australia cricket legend and the greatest leg-spinner of all-time, Shane Warne, has died, aged 52. 

Warne’s management released a statement in the early hours of Saturday saying that he passed away in Koh Samui, Thailand, of a suspected heart attack. 

“Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived,” the statement reads.

“The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”

According to the Herald Sun newspaper, attempts by Warne’s close friend and associate Andrew Neophitou to revive him were unsuccessful.

Staff at the Thai International Hospital told AFP in Bangkok that Warne’s body was taken to their facility around 6:00 pm local time (1100 GMT) from Samujana Villas, a luxury resort in the northeast of Koh Samui.

Australian captain Pat Cummins, currently leading the team on a tour of Pakistan, said Warne was “a hero” to the current generation of cricketers.

World reaction

Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, who with Shane Warne formed Test cricket’s holy trinity of the 1990s and 2000s, have shared their griefs at the sudden death of the Australian sporting great.

Warne was cricket’s greatest modern day superstar, and took 708 wickets in his spellbinding Test career as a leg-spinner.

Known internationally as “Warnie”, the Victorian made his Test debut at the SCG in 1992 and by the end of his career was rated one of the top five cricketers of the 20th century by Wisden.

Off the field, Warne made headlines from the UK to Australia and at one point dated actress, Liz Hurley.

Australian Test opener David Warner said he was struggling to take in the loss of Warne and Rod Marsh on the same day – posting a picture of them together.

“Two legends of our game have left us too soon. I’m lost for words, and this is extremely sad,” said Warner on Twitter.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the Marsh and Warne family. I just cannot believe it. RIP you both will be missed.”