How Shane Warne made a Royal Canberra impression

Like a lot of things he did in life, the legendary leg spinner broke this mould as well. Sure, he wasn't perfect, but who is.

I got wind he was playing golf at Royal Canberra one Saturday morning back in 2018 and headed out to grab him for a quick chat on all things Australian cricket.

Friendly and down to earth, he was more than happy to oblige - something not all famous sportspeople can be accused of.

Could we grab some pics? Yeah no worries. Just make sure there's no gaspers in shot.

With his daughter considering going to university in Canberra, he'd joined the club to have a hit when he was in town.

It's probably part of the appeal of the great and late SK Warne. The fact he just seemed like a normal bloke. Stories of him shipping cans of baked beans to eat while on tour in India only added to that.

It's why there was so much shock when he died of a heart attack in Thailand four weeks ago.

With Victoria holding a state memorial service for the King of Spin on Wednesday, Manuka Oval - which Warne sung the praises of the day I met him - put his name up on the scoreboard to mark the end of his innings. Fittingly, the old Jack Fingleton scoreboard used to live at the MCG, where Warne's service was held. Vale Shane Warne.

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But it's not just his friendliness at a golf course I'll always remember. There wouldn't be many cricket fans who don't remember the afternoon of destruction he reaped on the hapless Poms at Adelaide Oval way back in 2006.

Making my annual pilgrimage to the Adelaide members, the second Ashes Test of the series appeared to be petering out to a draw. That was our initial thoughts over a couple of quiet breakfast beers, although the more we talked the more we liked Australia's chances.

Warnie clearly had similar thoughts. The Poms started the final day at 1-59 in front of a small crowd.

He knocked over England opener Andrew Strauss, then he helped run out Ian Bell.

But it wasn't until he bowled his good mate Kevin Pietersen around his legs that everyone truly started to believe. He ended with 4-49. The Poms skittled for 129. And Mike Hussey hit the winning runs in the Adelaide sun.

It was one of those days that more and more people filtered into the ground when word started to get around. One of those days where hundreds of thousands of people claim to have been there despite an official figure of 20,355. And one of those days the mates that decided not to turn up will never live down.