A measure of a great cricketer is always obtained from how many games the team won with him contributing in it. Shane Warne has contributed to and single-handedly won many a test for Australia with his bowling. That is what separates him from the others.

Warne will always be remembered for being an integral part of a ruthless, dynamic winning machine.

Murali will be remembered as the guy who got tired opposition centurions out on the way to another Sri Lankan hiding.

Success does not lie entirely with the individual.

There is a fascinating article (ghost?)written by Stuart MacGill at the Guardian website today...he writes about how he laughs at people who suggest he was born in the wrong era, paying tribute to Warne as the man that revived slow blowing in a country where the art had become a historical novelty rather than a tradional force.

And admist all the hagiographies, he also tackles the question of Warne's off-field infamy. ".. courtesy of these distractions, we discovered perhaps his greatest strength.. it is incredibly valuable to a sport nowadays to have a leading player capable of combining unusually high standards on the field with a rock-star lifestyle..As players we may not want his life, but we would love to know how he keeps total focus on the field when the spotlight is on."

The greatness of Warne was demonstrated with Australi'a defeat of S.Africa in the 1999 World Cup Semi Final. A great cricketer, a great team player, a match winnewr, and a man whose of-field flaws prevented him from becoming a fantastic Test captain

Warne is a cricketing genius - albeit a poorly balanced human being - the latter of which should be of little concern to legions of sports fans. For, the same ego that has caused so much personal turmoil has been a driving force behind Warne's cricketing career.

Firstly, due apologies to Mr. Haigh since I’m sure he never imagined in his wildest dreams/nightmares that his ‘Positive Spin’ (title seems quite ironical now) would be dragged the farthest distance away from the objective of the article progressively to an ‘Australia vs The Rest of World debate’ to ‘Asia vs The Others debate’ to a ‘Warne vs Murli debate’ and lastly, but certainly not the least to a ‘Batsmen of Eng & SA vs Batsmen of Zim & Bangladesh’ debate. Phew!

By virtue of having the distinction of having the first post, I seemed to have necessitated the instant discussion (and absolutely unwittingly mind you) and it is only fair that I seek to have a harmonious end to the ‘healthy’ exchange brought about by the collective wisdom of all who have written here. I do agree that it’s a self-proclaimed privilege that I have conveniently bestowed on myself to end this debate (before anyone else wastes precious time on cyberspace abusing the crap out of me for taking up such a role). :-)

With all due respect: 1. It’s true that Shane Warne has had a very indifferent record against India but that by NO MEANS he’s a lesser bowler. He’s one of the greatest of all times ever. Period! 2. My only intention to highlight the above-mentioned record was to point out that Warne himself (under all probabilities) will be lamenting about the fact that Indian batsmen dealt with him comfortably enough as opposed to the rest of their international colleagues. 3. Another small matter…..we seem to overlook the fact that Indian batsmen have time and again stated the levels of preparation they had to undertake to counter Warne and notwithstanding that, how he was still that difficult to face. To say that Indian batsmen have “toyed” around with him is a bit too generous. 4. We really have no business to analyse his personal life and try to make him even an iota less of a cricketer. 5. And in my personal opinion, all the comments about ‘racism’/’small penis syndrome’/related jargons were entirely needless in the instant discussion.Hence, irrespective of Murli/Kumble/anybody else in the near or distant future...Warne is still a legend as much in the Subcontinent as anywhere else in the world...really! 6. And yes TIM, you are right…..statistics never ever tell the real picture….i would still spend my money to go see Warne anywhere in India even if he is getting hammered by Tendulkar & Co just to see the great man at his art, to see how he tries to outwit the guy with the bat with every SINGLE delivery, untiringly, persistently and often shamelessly.

It's not a competition!!! Warne is a slow, over the wrist bowler. Murali is also a wonderful bowler. We're lucky we are alive to winess both of them. Off the field/On the field are different matters. Who knows what Mr Grace, Mr Bradman & Mr Jardine got up to "Off the Field" in the past? The game is played on the field. And what a difference Mr Warne has made to our game in 15 years!

You're right, Geoff. It's only that us Indian fans react that way because we don't see what all the fuss is about, having seen Warne taken apart by our batsmen. But he is and will always be one of the greatest bowlers to have played the game.

Ok, so maybe he didn't achieve the same results, gained similar porularity or earn as much publicity, but isn't Qadir somehow equally as responsible for reviving the dead art of legspin.

In "An Illustrated History of Cricket", an acclaimed Wisden publication (1988), Vic Crace showers praise on Qadir for possessing the temperament of a fast bowler while practicing the guileful legspin trade. Of course in terms of ability, Qadir never got to be what Warne eventually ended up as, but Qadir did hold the legspin candle high and bright in the face of the fast-bowling whirlwind of the 1980's.

Yes it is sad that Warne is leaving. Everyone is correctly pointing out that he was the geatest bowler. But we should also acknowledge that the art of legspin has taken quite a blow as well. Warne had singlehandedly revived this dying art but who can carry on the mantle? Stuart McGill who never got quite made it to the side? but he's also no spring chicken now. Wish hw were born in another era. Danish Kaneria? although he needs to go a very long way. Who then?

Warne is certainly up there with the best I've seen. As far as his personal life goes - who gives a toss? and don't trot out the PC 'role model' crap out please. As for Murali, he will be remembered fondly when he retires too, but neither of them are the best bowler I've seen. that title goes to Dennis Lillee. Just my opinion remember. When Murali goes they should name the Aust-SL test trophy the Warne-Muralitharan Cup, has a nice ring to it, much better than the Hair-Ranatunga Cup lol.