Remembering Shane Warne

Just a few minutes ago, as I entered a room, I noticed a cricket ball (a tennis ball) lying on the table. In less than a moment, I performed an automated action: the ball in my hand, a backhand wrist movement, followed by a bowling action. That was my body recalling Warne, and my own childhood.

It’s fascinating how memory works. Just a ball lying around can trigger your body’s recall, and once a thread is unleashed, it triggers a flood of other memories. With a twinge of nostalgia, it prompted me to watch the 2005 Andy Strauss wicket on YouTube, which then made me reminisce about two phases of my life. Firstly, my life almost 20 years ago, as a schoolboy juggling study load with watching cricket. And secondly, my current life, or precisely the time around when Warnie passed away.

We love to rewind our lives through selected moments — those precious few that transform into indelible memories. Even among them, the majority are filled with significance, often defined by their direct influence on final outcomes. Yet, there exist moments that transcend mere impact, and are etched in our memories for their sheer brilliance. Shane Warne’s wicket of Andrew Strauss is one such moment for me. I still vividly remember that day, jumping off my seat in pure wonder and awe, and interestingly, the day afterward too.