Shane Warne’s children reveal new initiative to carry on their late father’s legacy

The children of the late cricket legend Shane Warne have taken it upon themselves to carry on their father’s legacy in a manner that transcends the boundaries of the cricket pitch.

The Warne siblings—Jackson, Brooke, and Summer— recently unveiled a new initiative aimed at honouring their father’s memory while leaving a positive imprint on the health of Australians.

Together with close friends and family, they are establishing the Shane Warne Legacy, a charitable organisation dedicated to raising awareness and funds for various causes. The inaugural Shane Warne Legacy Heart Test campaign, set to roll out by the year’s end, plans to offer 23,000 four-minute health tests to Australians.

The charitable endeavour came about after the realisation that a single check might have saved their father’s life.

“Who knows, if he’d just gotten this test he might still be with us,” Jackson recently told Sunrise.

“One of the biggest drivers for this is because when I got the phone call and heard this had happened to dad, I was just in shock.

“Because I looked at him like Superman, I thought he was invincible just like other Australians did. So when this news happened to him, it sort of gave me a wake-up call that this could happen to me as well, it could happen to anyone.

“We want to make sure this never happens to Australians and that if we can stop it, it might give people an extra few days with their family members.”

 

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The initiative quickly garnered widespread support as people from across the country rallied behind the cause, many praising Jackson for his inspiring efforts.

“This is incredible Jackson! Big Hugs,” one wrote.

“Your dad would be so proud mate.

“Fantastic work,” commented another.

“Beautiful words Jackson & inspiring legacy.”

Warne, died at the age of 52 on March 4, 2022, while enjoying a holiday on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand.

Widely regarded as one of the finest bowlers in the annals of cricket history, Warne made his debut in Test cricket in 1992, embarking on a journey that would see him claim over 1,000 wickets across both Test matches and One-Day Internationals. Warne’s astonishing tally of 708 Test wickets, achieved in just 145 appearances, held the coveted record for the most wickets taken in Test cricket until 2007.

Acknowledging his extraordinary sporting achievements, the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack bestowed upon Warne the rare honour of being named one of its Five Cricketers of the Twentieth Century, sharing this elite status with legendary figures such as Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Jack Hobbs, and Sir Vivian Richards. In 2013, he was immortalised in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Many aficionados of the game credit Warne with revolutionising cricket, particularly for his mastery of leg spin—a craft that, back in 1994, some believed was vanishing due to its formidable technical demands. Warne breathed new life into this art form, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to inspire aspiring cricketers around the world.