Legendary Australian spin bowler Shane Warne has died, sending shockwaves throughout the global cricketing fraternity today (March 4). 

According to a report from Fox News, Warne passed away from a suspected heart attack. He was 52 years old.

Warne is regarded as one of the finest leg-spin bowlers of all time after a career in which he took 708 Test wickets in a career that spanned fifteen years.

The iconic Aussie talisman made his international debut in 1992, aged 23, in a Test series against India. 

A native of Upper Ferntree Gully, a suburb of outer Melbourne, Warne returned for another series against Sri Lanka in August and rescued the struggling hosts from sure defeat—claiming three wickets which led to a collapse of the Sri Lankan batting order and Australia’s victory by 16 runs.

In 1993, as vice-captain of the Aussies, Warne led his country to its first ICC World Cup win since 1987 with a 4/33 effort that battered joint finalists Pakistan. 

Warne, at the height of his success, was banned from the sport in 2003 for testing positive for a prohibited substance.

He later played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other Twenty20 competitions before retiring from all international cricket in 2013 but continued to be involved in cricket as a broadcaster and commentator.