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OTD in 1993: Shane Warne Unleashed ‘Ball of the Century’ to Outfox Mike Gatting

image-lihkcwq9Shane Warne celebrates Mike Gatting's wicket in 1993 (Twitter)

On this day in 1993, Shane Warne took perhaps the most memorable scalp from his 708-wicket collection in Test cricket. The legendary spinner outfoxed a clueless Mike Gatting off his first ball in English conditions, thus signalling his illustrious run over the next 14 years for Australia.

The wicket set the tone for the remainder of the match, which Australia took home by 179 runs at Manchester’s Old Trafford.

Shane Warne’s ultimate Magnus Effect completes 30 years

Late Australian cricketer Shane Warne claimed 708 Test wickets, with 195 of them coming against Ashes rivals England alone. The first of those 195 wickets perhaps casted the biggest shadow for leg spin bowling in world cricket.

It all happened when a 22-year-old Warne was brought in to bowl by his captain Allan Border in the first English innings in the opening Test of the 1993 Ashes tour. The leg spinner, with his usual run-up, delivered a leg break that spun from outside leg stump towards middle and off to clean up Gatting.

Notably, prior to the series, many had expected Gatting to rule over Warne throughout the English summer, owing to the latter’s inexperience in international cricket at the time. Moreover, the England cricketer was also a renowned player against spin bowling.

Warne took three more wickets in the innings to finish with 4-51 from his 24 overs, thus helping his side to dust out the hosts for just 210. Australia, enjoying their 79-run first innings lead, added 432 more to the total to set up an improbable 512-run target for England.

The ace leg spinner took another four-fer in the second innings, and was assisted by Merv Hughes in dismantling the English batting line-up for the second time in the game.

Border’s pantheons won the contest by 179 runs, and Warne was fittingly adjudged as ‘Player of the Match’ for his eight-wicket Test haul.

Shane Warne’s special to Mike Gatting signalled a revival of legspin in world cricket, which was long thought to be extinct by the time.

He finished his career against the same opponents in early 2007 as Test cricket’s highest wicket taker, thus marking a fairy tale conclusion to his long and successful career.