Ricky Ponting Reveals The One Thing He Regrets Not Saying To Shane Warne Before His Death
The former Australian skipper broke down in tears in the emotional and brave interview.
Ricky Ponting broke down in tears as he revealed the one thing he wished he'd said to Shane Warne before his death.
Warne's tragic passing has sent shockwaves around the world with a number of fans and fellow cricketers paying their respects to the 'King Of Spin'.
But it's the touching tributes from Warne's mourning family members and former teammates which have made the devastating news all too true.
Former Australian skipper Ponting was one of many ex-colleagues who struggled to contain his emotions as he opened up on the death of his good friend.
Appearing on the ICC Podcast, Ponting was asked by former England cricketer-turned-commentator Isa Guha what he wished he could say to Warney right now.
"As I've said to a lot of the guys I've been talking to over the last couple of days, just how much I love him," Ponting said as he battled to fight back the tears.
"I didn't say that, but I wish I did."
He then broke down and wept.
It was a truly heartbreaking admission during the emotional yet brave interview.
But Guha's response was as class as ever.
"I'm sorry for your loss Ricky," she said.
"You wouldn't have needed to say that to him, he would have just known how you felt about him."
Ponting and Warne played 12 years in the Australian side together, striking up a beautiful friendship both on the oval and away from it.
"When we were travelling the world or when we were travelling around Australia, the Australian cricket team would do coaching clinic's whenever we could," Ponting said.
"When Shane was there, every kid at that coaching clinic wanted to bowl leg spin. Everyone wanted to be Shane Warne. That wasn't only in Australia - there would have been boys and girls in England wanting to be Shane Warne as well, and India and places like that. That's the impact he had on the game.
"Just thinking of how big he was in the scheme of world sport, from signing that big Nike contract and going over and hanging out with Michael Jordan, that stuff doesn't happen in cricket. He was a star, just an absolute superstar.
"Forget about what he did on the field the star power that he brought to the game, the game was always better when Warnie was a part of it. And we're going to notice that pretty soon. People will notice that with his commentary not being there."
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/ICCTopics: Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Cricket News, Australia
Max Sherry