Page 107 - IPL1

After that, the bouquets came and went almost as a matter of
course – a state of affairs lent an extra piquancy by a turbulent
private life. England were routinely hammered in Ashes contests.
South Africa could not make head nor tail of his variations
and supremely competitive aggression. Even the Pakistanis,
supposedly well-versed in the arts of back-of-the-hand slow
bowling, struggled to pick him on their patch. Only the Indians –
and Tendulkar in particular, a bowler Warne would admit he had
nightmares about – played him with any degree of certainty.

But his stint as captain/coach of Rajasthan Royals laid to rest any
notion that Warne was incapable of success in India and helped
win over a nation that may previously not have appreciated
what all the fuss was about. Warne’s contribution to one of the
sporting stories of the year lay not just in the wickets he took
– and the occasional runs he scored – but in the way he helped
the most unfancied team of the lot play to their potential and
frequently above it.

It would have been fascinating to be a fly on the wall after
the Royals went down in their opening match by nine wickets
to Delhi Daredevils, but whatever it was Warne said to his
demoralised side obviously did the job. Only two more games
were lost after that – one of them, to Kings XI Punjab, after
qualification for the semi-finals had already been assured – and
it was no surprise when Rajasthan held their collective nerve to
win the final against Chennai Super Kings off the last ball. It was
a victory made in Warne’s image.

Needless to say, his own contribution was exceptional. Not only
did he claim 19 wickets with his leg-spin – and some of them
through sheer force of personality – but he crucially hit 16 off
three balls at the death to help Rajasthan win their third match
of the tournament, against Deccan Chargers. Had that result

been reversed, they might never have generated the momentum
that took them all the way to the final. It was a typical piece of
Warne showmanship, and the affection in which he was held by
his team-mates was demonstrated by the mass pitch invasion
which ended up with the captain being enveloped as he tried to
shake hands with the vanquished Andrew Symonds. It was an
image to define the tournament.