Spin legend's legacy lingers long after Sri Lanka tsunami

No foreign cricketer is likely to ever capture the hearts of Sri Lankans quite like Shane Warne did.

Yet, of all the heartfelt tributes paid to the spin great on the island he had helped to rebuild from its worst ever natural disaster, the late spin great might have been most touched by a quiet moment in the small village of Seenigama this week.

Back in early 2005 at the urging of Muttiah Muralidaran, Warne had visited the seaside community on Sri Lanka's south coast, one of many that had been flattened by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

Among the most memorable vision captured by a 60 Minutes film crew during his visit was four-year-old Dilini Wasana kissing Warne on the cheek as he handed out food and toys.

On Monday, four months after the sudden death of the Victorian, Dilini was in the same spot where she met had met Warne seventeen years ago.

Image Id: B7872062B10A4262BABAFDEA454AD8B7 Image Caption: Jason Warne meets a grown up Ravindra Kumara (L) and Dilini Wasana (R) // Supplied

This time she greeted his brother Jason, who was visiting the Foundation of Goodness; the embodiment of Shane’s contribution to the country.

"It's been pretty emotional," said Jason Warne, standing on a small cricket ground the Foundation built in the aftermath of the tsunami.

"We're here because of what Shane did in 2004. It's been great to come over here and get a sense of why he wanted to do it.

"(From) the footage that came out of Shane's visit, there was one little girl (Dilini) who gave him a kiss on the cheek, you could see she was so happy.

"She was saying she would love to be able to say thank you one more time. To go there today and see her, was pretty special."

Image Id: 69700E8AE42A42FAB9CE4B44A6E177E2 Image Caption: Shane Warne meets tsunami survivors during his 2005 visit to Sri Lanka // Getty

The spin legend's visit back in 2005 to Sri Lanka shone a light on the destruction to lives, homes and the Galle cricket ground where Warne had taken his 500th Test wicket less than a year earlier.

It prompted a wave of donations from Australia and his continued efforts in the ensuing years have not been forgotten.

Kushil Gunasekera, the long-time manager of Muralidaran who runs the Foundation of Goodness, has used the proceeds to build community facilities across 10 sites in rural Sri Lanka.

One of the graduates of the Foundation's educational programs was Ramesh Mendis, born in nearby Ambalangoda and whose off-spin saw him take four wickets against Australia in last week's first Test.

Image Id: 609599006B0846708F441CD467D26D57 Image Caption: Ramesh Mendis celebrates the wicket of David Warner during the first Test // Getty

"He was the first one to come," Gunasekera said of Shane on Monday, as he gave Jason and his wife Shay a two-hour tour of school, health, dental and sporting facilities in Seenigama.

"What Shane did when he came with 60 minutes, and because of the way he presented the case, it went all around Australia.

"And as a result Master Builders came, the Victorian Government came, and we were able to get help from so many people."

Since his brother's passing, Jason Warne has heard countless stories, tributes and messages of gratitude from around the world about the leg-spinner's impact on other's lives.

Image Id: 63E990E138344BE1974A8288C203793F Image Caption: Shane Warne speaks with Sri Lankan schoolchildren in Seenigama in 2005 // Getty

For the first Test in Galle, the ground the late Warne had helped raise $1 million for, posters with his and Muralidaran's faces were stationed around the ground while seven members of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup winning team were on hand for a commemorative plate presentation before play.

"It was hard not to notice all the all the Warnie portraits up all around the ground," said Mitchell Swepson, one of the few leg-spinners to play Test cricket for Australia since Warne.

"All the work he did for the Sri Lankan tsunami fund, he's had a massive impact on this country with his cricket and off the field as well. It was great to see them pay tribute and see how much they respect the man

"I'm in no way shape or form trying to try to be Shane Warne, he is the best we've ever had … but when people ask me what I do and I tell them I bowl leg spin it’s 'Oh, like Warnie”.

"That’s just the mark he left on the game, he’s a legend."

Image Id: 1B5A146918B64AE5B6D8D9AE526D392D Image Caption: Jason Warne meets locals at the Foundation of Goodness on Monday // Supplied

Some tributes have even surprised Jason Warne, most notably the announcement from a United Nations at the MCG memorial service that a wildlife conversation grant would be named in the late cricketer's honour.

"It's sometimes hard to get your head around that my brother, who I used to just go up to the nets with and have a bit of fun, has left such a legacy," said Warne.

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Jeffrey Vandersay. Standby players: Dunith Wellalage, Lakshitha Rasanjana.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. Standby players: Jon Holland, Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy

June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

Sri Lanka v Australia Test matches will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Limited-overs results

June 7: Australia won first T20 by 10 wickets

June 8: Australia won second T20 by three wickets

June 11: Sri Lanka won third T20 by four wickets

June 14: Australia won first ODI by two wickets (DLS)

June 16: Sri Lanka won second ODI by 26 runs (DLS)

June 19: Sri Lanka won third ODI by six wickets

June 21: Sri Lanka won fourth ODI by four runs

June 24: Australia won fifth ODI by four wickets

Australia A results

Australia A squad: Scott Boland, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee

Sri Lanka A one-day squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Udara, Lasith Croospulle, Oshada Fernando, Pabasara Waduge, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Janitha Liyanage, Sahan Arachchi, Pulina Tharanga, Dunith Wellalage, Dananjaya Lakshan, Shiran Fernando (will not play due to injury), Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Nishan Madushka, Ashen Daniel,Nisala Tharaka

June 8: Australia A won by seven wickets

June 10: Sri Lanka A won by four wickets

June 14-17: Australia A won by 68 runs

June 21-24: Australia A won by five wickets