Sunday Mirror

He’d have been top skip

- BY GARY FITZGERALD

FORGET the ‘Ball of the Century’, Mike Gatting’s biggest regret is that Shane Warne – cricket’s greatest spinner and showman – never led his country into Ashes battle.

Gatting feels the Australia captaincy would have been perfect for his friend.

And it would have allowed the bowler, who achieved so much in the game, to create even more remarkable sporting history. Warne took 708 wickets in his 145 Tests wearing the Baggy Green.

Yet the man who revolution­ised spin bowling and was a hero for so many youngsters, had one massive regret – not getting the chance to be a Test skipper.

Former England captain Gatting said: “Shane was a great player in a great Australia side.

“But one thing will always disappoint me – he never captained Australia. The way he thought about the game, getting people out and the way he’d bowl for hours for the team and do what was required.

“I suspect the way he approached life stopped him from being the captain.”

 ?? ?? CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN Gatting and mate Warne
CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN Gatting and mate Warne
 ?? ?? BUBBLY Warne leads the party after 1997 win
BUBBLY Warne leads the party after 1997 win

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