FRIENDS AND FANS HONOUR LEGEND WARNE

THE Shane Warne Commentary Box at Lord’s was officially opened amid much fanfare from his former colleagues at Sky Sports.

Had the legendary former leg-spinner not died suddenly in March aged 52, he would have taken his place in that same box, between cigarette breaks, and regaled those listening with his wit and insight.

Instead, his TV chums themed the first Test ‘Remembering Warne’ as a tribute to Australia’s greatest spinner, as compelling to listen to at the microphone as he was to watch bowling in the middle.

And at the end of the 23rd over with the score 37-6, players on both sides paused to join in with a 23-second round of applause - a reference to the number on his ODI short - in honour of the man who was an MCC honorary life member and also the head coach of the London Spirit, the Hundred team based at Lord’s.

And it was in that capacity that I spoke with Warne (above) last year to preview the new tournament. He had plenty to say on plenty of subjects, but his loyalty to his craft of leg-spin was total.

Matt Parkinson (left) was the latest of its exponents to have Warne cast his expert eye over his abilities, and there can be little doubt his call-up yesterday as a concussion substitution for Jack Leach would have met with Warne’s approval.

“I really like Matt Parkinson,” said Warne, last summer, of a player who was 200 miles from Lord’s at the start of play and had to make a dash to London when news came through.

“And I reckon Parkinson is someone who could easily play Test cricket for England. He bowls at a beautiful pace and gets plenty of bounce so I think he could be an important weapon for England, and he might even get a go this year, maybe at Old Trafford.

“In Australia if you don’t have a good spinner you’re going to be in a lot of trouble. The wickets are flat and it gets so hot. You need to have a good spinner.”

The Ashes might have come too soon for Parkinson last winter, but when the Lancashire leg-spinner gets a chance to turn his arm over in a Test shirt it will be easy to continue remembering Warne.