Shane Warne's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Shane Warne.

Shane Warne, an Australian cricketer from 1992-2007, is considered one of the greatest of all time. A right-arm leg spin bowler and lower-order batsman, he played for Victoria, Hampshire, Melbourne Stars, and Australia. Warne captained and coached the Rajasthan Royals, leading them to victory in the inaugural IPL season, demonstrating his skill as well as leadership in the sport.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

August 1992: Match Winning Spell Against Sri Lanka

On 22 August 1992, during the tour of Sri Lanka, Shane Warne took the last three Sri Lankan wickets without conceding a run in the second innings, contributing to a 16-run Australian win.

1992: Recalled for Boxing Day Test

In 1992, Shane Warne was recalled for the Second Test against the West Indies in Melbourne, a Boxing Day Test, where he took 7/52 in a match-winning performance in the second innings.

1993: Player of the Series vs New Zealand and Record Wickets

In 1993 when New Zealand toured Australia, Shane Warne took 18 wickets and was named Player of the Series and Warne took 72 Test wickets, a then-record for a spin bowler in a calendar year.

1994: Career-Best Figures and Test Hat-Trick

In 1994, during the Ashes series in Australia, Shane Warne took a career-best 8/71 in the first Test and his first and only Test hat-trick in the Second Test.

1995: West Indies Tour

In 1995, Shane Warne toured the West Indies, taking 15 wickets in four Tests, and Australia defeated the West Indies in a Test series for the first time in almost 20 years.

1995: Home Series Against Pakistan and Sri Lanka

In the Australian summer of 1995–96, Shane Warne took 11 wickets in the first Test against Pakistan and was named player of the series, and he took 12 wickets against Sri Lanka across the three Tests.

1997: Wickets in New Zealand and South Africa series, Media Criticisms

During the Australian summer of 1997–98, Shane Warne took 19 wickets in the three-Test series against New Zealand in Australia. He also took 20 wickets in three Tests against South Africa, including his 300th Test wicket, becoming the second Australian after Dennis Lillee to reach this milestone. In late 1997, Warne faced media criticism for his weight, but was also recognized as one of Australia's three most influential cricketers.

1997: Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World

In 1997, Shane Warne was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World.

1997: Australian tour of South Africa and the Ashes series in England

In early 1997, Shane Warne took 11 wickets in Australia's three-Test tour of South Africa, which Australia won 2–1. During the northern summer of 1997, Warne played in the Ashes series in England, performing well in the Third Test at Old Trafford with nine wickets and claiming seven wickets in the Fifth Test at Trent Bridge as Australia secured the Ashes. Warne finished the series with 24 wickets at an average of 24.04.

1998: Tour of India and Surpassing Lance Gibbs' Record

In early 1998, Shane Warne toured India with the Australian team. Due to disliking Indian food, he had tinned spaghetti and baked beans flown in from Australia. With key pace bowlers injured, Warne bowled more overs, taking 10 wickets but conceding 54 runs each. His dismissal of Rahul Dravid in the final Test at Bangalore marked him surpassing Lance Gibbs' tally of 309 wickets, making Warne the most successful spin bowler in Test Cricket. Despite this, Australia lost the series.

January 1999: Return to International Cricket in Fifth Ashes Test

In January 1999, Shane Warne returned to international cricket in the fifth Test of the Ashes series in Australia after recovering from injury. He played alongside Stuart MacGill at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where MacGill took twelve wickets and Warne took two.

1999: 1999 Cricket World Cup performance

In 1999, Shane Warne participated in the Cricket World Cup held in the United Kingdom. Before the tournament, the ICC fined Warne and gave him a suspended ban for comments about Arjuna Ranatunga. He took 12 wickets in the group and Super Six phases. Warne played a key role in the semi-final against South Africa, taking 4/29 and being named man of the match. In the final against Pakistan, Warne took 4/33 and was again named the man of the match, contributing to Australia's victory. Warne finished the World Cup with 20 wickets, tying for the most wickets in the tournament.

March 2000: Leading Wicket-Taker in New Zealand tour

In March 2000, Shane Warne took 15 wickets in Australia's tour of New Zealand, contributing to Australia winning the series 3–0. In the first Test at Eden Park, Auckland, Warne surpassed Dennis Lillee's 355 wickets to become Australia's leading-ever wicket-taker.

2000: Joined Hampshire, Awarded ODI Player of the Year

In 2000, Shane Warne joined English county side Hampshire for the northern summer. During the county season, reports of Warne sending lewd SMS messages to an English nurse emerged. In 2000, the ACB awarded Warne the Men's ODI Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal ceremony.

2000: Wisden Cricketer of the Century

In 2000, Shane Warne was chosen as one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Century.

2001: 2001 Ashes Series Performance

During the English summer of 2001, Shane Warne played in the Ashes series, taking 31 wickets at 18.70 in the five-Test series, which Australia won 4–1. He took three five-wicket hauls and collected eight wickets in each of the First and Third Tests. In the final Test at The Oval, Warne took 11 wickets and reached his 400th career Test wicket, becoming the first Australian to reach this milestone.

October 2002: Series Against Pakistan in Neutral States

In October 2002, Australia played a three-Test series against Pakistan in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. Shane Warne took 27 wickets and was named Man of the Match in both the First and Third Tests. He was also selected as the Player of the Series.

February 2004: Return to Competitive Cricket

In February 2004, Shane Warne returned to competitive cricket following his ban. In March, he became the second cricketer to take 500 Test wickets during the series against Sri Lanka. Warne was named player of the series.

October 2004: Record for Most Test Wickets

On 15 October 2004, Shane Warne broke the record for most career wickets in Test cricket during the second Test against India at Chennai. His dismissal of Irfan Pathan marked his 533rd wicket, surpassing Muttiah Muralidaran's previous record. Australia won the series 2–1, their first series win in India since 1969. Warne's performance in India was an improvement on his previous performances.

2004: Included in Richie Benaud's Greatest XI

In 2004, Shane Warne was included in Richie Benaud's Greatest XI, and was chosen as the best spin bowler of all time.

2004: Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World

In 2004, Shane Warne was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World by Wisden.

August 2005: 600th Test Wicket

On August 11, 2005, during the Third Ashes Test at Old Trafford, Warne became the first bowler in cricket history to reach 600 Test wickets. In the same test in August 2005, Warne scored 90 first innings runs, helping Australia avoid the follow-on and draw the match.

2005: BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year

In 2005, Shane Warne was named the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

2005: ICC World Test Team of the Year & Wicket Record

In 2005, Warne was named in the ICC World Test Team of the Year XI for his performances. Also, in 2005, he broke the record for the number of wickets in a calendar year, taking 96 wickets.

April 2006: South Africa Tour

In March-April 2006, Warne played a three Test series in South Africa. In April 2006, Warne achieved series-best figures of 6/86 in Durban, helping Australia win by 112 runs, and was named Man of the Match.

2006: Recognition and Awards

For his performances in 2006, Warne was named in the World Test XI by the ICC and ESPNcricinfo. In 2006, Cricket Australia awarded Warne the Men's Test Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal ceremony.

2006: Ashes Series

In the 2006-07 Ashes series, during 2006, Warne initially had an indifferent Test performance in Brisbane and a poor first innings in Adelaide. However, his second-innings performance, including bowling Kevin Pietersen, triggered England's collapse and Australia's win. Warne also bowled well in the third Test's second innings, taking the final wicket of Monty Panesar as Australia regained the Ashes.

2007: Warne-Muralidaran Trophy and ODI XI

In 2007, the Australia–Sri Lanka Test cricket series was named the Warne–Muralidaran Trophy in honor of Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralidaran. Additionally, Cricket Australia named Warne in their greatest ODI XI of all time in 2007.