On 30 March 2022, Australia farewelled one of its greatest cricketers at a State Memorial Service held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In his 15-year test cricket career (1992 to 2007), Shane Warne achieved much as a leg spin bowler. Taking 708 wickets with a bowling average of 25.41 he is Australia’s leading wicket taker and – displaying his all-rounder abilities – has scored the most test runs in a career without a century. Recognition of his prowess, and impact on the game of cricket, came in 2000 when a panel of experts selected him as one of 5 Wisden Cricketers of the (20th) Century, and the only one still playing at that time.

Part of Shane Warne's appeal to cricket followers was the variety of balls he could bowl. Along with the standard leg spinner there was the googly, the flipper, the slider and the zooter. Before a series commenced there would often be talk of a new ‘mystery ball’ which had been added to his arsenal of deliveries with which to deceive batters. Drawing on this reputation is this Nike advertisement from 1996, which takes the public recognition of Shane Warne's ‘mystery ball’ to humorous extremes.

It seemed like something special was only moments away when Shane Warne was bowling his big turning leg breaks or deceiving batters with a flipper or a wrong’un whether in the Test, One Day or even the T20 arena. Although Shane Warne is no longer with us, the memories of those fortunate enough to see him will remain. The moving images of his career in the NFSA collection will continue to be preserved for future generations.

Read more: Vale Shane Warne