This is a bad joke we all thought. It's unreal. Then again, Shane Warne's life was unreal, on and off the

field. Leave it to Warnie to leave us in a spin. His dramatic passing has stopped the cricketing world in its tracks, and it hurts deeply. Who would have thought that this chubby boy with a mullet bowling leggies would go on to become cricket's greatest showman.

He was one of the few cricketers that transcended the game. He had a magical allure that made him so compelling. His charm and magnetism captivated audiences all over the world. Shane Warne was not just a feature in the Aussie back garden. Playing cricket on the streets of Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, there was at least one young player who tried to emulate Warne. When the kid landed it right, the rest would all go up together and yell "Bowling Shane!"

When Shane Warne burst onto the scene, he was the greatest thing that happened to cricket. The legend started with the "Gatting ball." His first ball in an Ashes series drifted and pitched leg stump, then spun away sharply to kiss off-stump. It was the perfect leg-break. After that, Shane Warne was unstoppable.

The art of leg-spin is by far the hardest discipline in the game, but it came to Warne so naturally. His bowling had a spiritual quality. First, his causal eight steps to the crease followed by the release of the ball. When it was delivered, the close in fielders and batter could hear the fizz of the ball. The revolutions of the ball made an ominous purring sound. With flight, his leg-break would pitch just under the batter's eye-line, and then it would spin and zip off the surface, leaving the batter confounded. It was all feel, rhythm, and sound, and for the batter, utter chaos. Gosh, it was beautiful.

His skill was unique, loaded with physical and emotional strength. He had the ability to psyche out his opponent, a bit like Muhammad Ali. He was extremely thoughtful and competitive, which gave him an edge over other spinners. He created drama and a sense of theatre that mesmerized us all. If the cricketing Gods were smiling upon him in his first Ashes test when he knocked over Mike Gatting, they were certainly present at the MCG (his home ground) when he took his 700th test wicket. It was as if Warne wrote his own script.

Warne would spend hours each day just bowling leg-breaks. After that, he would focus on his other deliveries, like, the wrong-un, the slider, and of course that flipper from hell. He worked incredibly hard to be the best, and he was, by a country mile. As a fielder, he could catch pigeons at slip. He was no Mark Waugh in the slips cordon, but he was a very trusty slipper. With the bat, he would make important runs down the order. His powerful shoulders allowed him to smash the ball hard. Overall, he was a natural cricketer with incredible ball sense.

Warne's private life was never far away from the tabloids. In 2005, just before the Ashes, details of his divorce were splashed all over the media. He called it the lowest point of his life. Shane Warne had this incredible ability to compartmentalize. Even though his personal life was up in flames, he made a conscious decision not to let it affect his performance on the field. In the 2005 Ashes, Warne took 40 wickets in five Tests. That ball to Andrew Strauss, which spun sideways and smashed the stumps, will never be forgotten. Warne's performance in 2005 is a lesson to us all, that the human mind has the ability to achieve great things even under stress.

After his retirement in 2007, he went on to become an insightful cricket commentator. He learned from his Channel 9 idols (Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry, Tony Greig, and Ian Chappelle). His analysis was always crisp and clear. He also added joy and entertainment to the commentary box. That's who he was, a true entertainer, and everyone wanted to be around him.

His friends have often talked about his loyalty. He had many weaknesses, but his loyalty to his friends and three children was never in question. He hobnobbed with people in high places, like Chris Martin from Cold Play, Elton John, Ed Sheeran, and of course his ex-fiancé, Elizabeth Hurley. They say that fame changes you, but not Shane Warne. He never gave us someone he was not. That's why he was loved. Deep down, he was always that same wide-eyed humble kid from Melbourne who loved pizza and hot chips.

My God, we will miss this thrilling incomparable genius. His maestro and his effervescence will always be remembered. But more than anything, his kindness, generosity, and lightness will be missed. We say goodbye now. Thank you, Warnie. Wherever you are, we are all certain that you will spread joy on that stage as well.