Shane Warne - No Spin: My Autobiography

My story, without the spin.

From the start of his glittering career in 1992, to his official retirement from all formats of the game in 2013, Shane Warne has long desired to tell his incredible story without compromise. No Spin is that very story. It will offer a compelling intimate voice, true insight and a pitch-side seat to one of crickets finest eras, making this one of the ultimate must-have sports autobiographies.

Shane is not only one of the greatest living cricket legends: he is as close as the game has had since Botham to a maverick genius on the field and a true rebel spirit off it, who always gives audiences what they want. Despite being the talismanic thorn in Englands side for nearly two decades of regular Ashes defeats, he was also much loved in the UK where he played cricket for Hampshire. Hes also a much-admired figure in India and South Africa.

Alongside his mesmerising genius as a bowler, Shane has often been a controversial figure, and in this book hes talk with brutal honesty about some of the most challenging times in his life as a player. Honest, thoughtful, fearless and loved by millions, Shane is always his own man and this book is a testament to his brilliant career.

Shane Warne, born 13 September 1969, is widely regarded as one of the finest bowlers in the history of cricket. Warne played his first Test match in 1992, and took over 1000 international wickets (in Tests and One-Day Internationals). A useful lower-order batsman, Warne also scored over 3000 Test runs. He also played Australian domestic cricket for his home state of Victoria, and English domestic cricket for Hampshire. He was captain of Hampshire for three seasons, from 2005 to 2007. He also captained the Rajasthan Royals to victory in the IPL in 2008. He officially retired from all formats in 2013 and currently commentates for Sky Sports.

For Mum and Dad

And for Brooke, Jackson and Summer

I MET SHANE in 1993 outside my girlfriends house in London, having driven at the speed of light from a county game in Nottingham, nerves on edge, to ask her to marry me. I parked in the road, took a deep breath, and climbed out of the car, only to see the blond leg-spinner who had bowled the Gatting ball a couple of weeks earlier emerge from her front door. Okay, I thought, this boy is good!

Charm was written all over him. He explained that a mate of his knew her sister and that the four of them had whacked back a bottle or two of ros in the next-door pub, before attacking another on the tiny back patio of the girls terraced cottage. He said he was sorry to rush but he had a commitment for which he was already late. No worries, I said, and that was that. The next time I saw him was on telly, knocking over England again. I didnt propose that night, the adrenalin had disappeared into the ether. I was not to know that he had only recently popped the question himself, on a boat in the Lake District somewhere, a question that received an enthusiastic response.

Women have been both his fun and his folly. Cricket, of course, has been his fulfilment. He is, in the truest sense, a great cricketer. He has touched the game in all its genres and formats, and in myriad ways. Mainly, he has ridden roughshod over any opponent who has stood in his way. Only in Test matches in India has the local talent held sway, though there were mitigating circumstances. Richie Benaud called him not just the greatest leg-spinner of all time but the greatest bowler he had seen, full stop. Richies judgement will do for me.

He is a challenging and rewarding personality, and about as strong a character as the sport has seen. He is a loyal friend and, thankfully, after more than a year on the project of this book, I find him just as engaging as I ever did. The pace of his life can be overwhelming, for the dull moments are few and far between; with Warney, its all or nothing.

The book is written mainly in his vocabulary, as a stream of consciousness. I could see no other way, since it is Shanes story not mine. After 35 hours of recorded conversation there were expletives to delete and, necessarily I think, a few worth keeping. Given there have been at least 12 books written about him by other people, it has been fun hearing his own version of a life less than ordinary.

The songs at the heading of most chapters reflect his great love of contemporary music, as well as his general sense of a good time. The choices come mostly from favourites in his own collection and they attempt, at least in some way, to reflect the chapter of his life to come. The saying goes that singing makes you happy; well, he sings a great deal.

Whatever conclusions you may make, most of all I hope that you hear his voice, for it continues to echo with the game he so loves.

Mark Nicholas, August 2018

I STARTED OUT in the Melbourne suburbs and I remain happily there to this day. Though London has called for a lot of the time over the past few years, Brighton, just a few miles out of Melbournes city centre, is my patch. Ive traded houses there like I dont know what home is, but I do; I know whats in my heart.

Ive only ever had two serious relationships. Yep, two: the first with my wife of 10 years, Simone, and the second much more recently with my ex-fiance, Elizabeth Hurley. Believe it or not, Id take the quiet life over the red carpet any day. The trouble is I havent often portrayed myself as anything but a good-time boy, hunting down something different every week of the year. Kerry Packer once told me, Sell the blue Ferrari, son, and lie low for a while, so I did as I was told, and bought a silver one. Lying low hasnt been my thing.

I have lived in the moment and ignored the consequences. This has served me both well and painfully, depending on which moment. Ive tried to live up to the legend, or the myth in my view, which has been a mistake because Ive let life off the field become as public as life on it. In my defence, Ive never pretended to be someone or something Im not.

Im a little older now and often wish I was wiser. Im sick of taking up space in tabloid newspapers and plan to work on that with a bit more conviction than previously in my life. Yes, Ive been silly at times but, equally, I like to think Ive done justice to my talent, openly shared it with the world and provided plenty of entertainment. Regrets? A few but not as many as you might think. I cant change anything so whats the point of regret? Ive tried to do the best by Brooke, Jackson and Summer, my beautiful kids, but the space in those tabloid papers has at times embarrassed and hurt them. Right there is a regret.

Now thats off my chest, we can get down to business. Other than Would you sign this, please? and Can I have a selfie?, the question Im asked most is How did you do it? By that I think people are referring to the Gatting ball, the World Cup semi-final, Amazing Adelaide, the MCG 700th, the IPL and so on. I might be wrong, of course, but probably not, so as my life unfolds over the coming pages, I hope to answer the question. Yes, the search for fame, love, admiration and lifestyle are in the make-up somewhere. Ultimately, though, its about the leg-break, and the strategy, instinct and burning desire to win that came with it.

The stories on the pages that follow are the result of many recorded conversations with a longtime friend, Mark Nicholas. Marks job has been to make sense of it all his magic trick, if you like and hes pulled more than a few rabbits out of the hat. Mine is more mysterious and has been worth a bunch of wickets and a few trophies along the way. Best of all, it has been a whole lot of fun. You gotta remember football was my thing, not cricket