Some of Australia’s greatest ever cricketers start new tradition to remember Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds after their tragic deaths
- Number of former Aussie cricket greats caught up last weekend in Victoria
- Ricky Ponting organised the reunion, about staying connected with friends
- Justin Langer, Matt Hayden and Adam Gilchrist among those who attended
- For help in a crisis call 000. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Some of the greatest cricketers Australia has ever produced shared laughs, a few beers and enjoyed one another’s company last weekend following the tragic deaths of Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds this year.
Former captain Ricky Ponting organised the reunion on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, in what will now be an annual event.
Others who attended included Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Matthew Hayden, Darren Lehmann, Andy Bichel, Adam Gilchrist, Greg Blewett and Shane Watson.
Ponting wanted to celebrate the lives of Warne and Symonds and also stress the importance of mateship.
It still hurts the champion batsman he didn’t tell Warne he loved him.
A number of Australia’s greatest cricketers caught up last weekend on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula (pictured, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Matt Hayden, Darren Lehmann, Andy Bichel, Adam Gilchrist, Greg Blewett, Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson)
Organiser Ricky Ponting wanted to celebrate the lives of Shane Warne (pictured) and Andrew Symonds and also stress the importance of mateship
‘I didn’t say that, but I wish I did,’ Ponting said.
The ex-cricketers played a round of golf last Friday before a dinner, with Saturday set aside for an afternoon of footy and the races.
Once the sun went down, it was all about belting out tunes on the jukebox at a local watering hole in Sorrento.
‘With Warnie going like he did, and I think because we’ve been through what we’ve been through, that was a bit of a catalyst for getting us all together,’ Blewett told News Corp.
‘One of the great things about Australian cricket all in all is the mateship through it all, so to be able to reflect on some of those times – it was quite an emotional weekend, actually.
Former Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds died in a car crash in May outside of Townsville
‘We certainly raised a few glasses to some absent friends and it probably made especially this year a bit more special being the first year.’
It has been a brutal year for Australian cricket, with legendary wicketkeeper Rod Marsh passing just hours before Warne.
Symonds then died in a car crash in May.
Following the sudden death of former NRL coach Paul Green last week, the reunion was about staying connected and always checking in.
Langer was also seen loving life as one of the boys after stepping aside as Australia’s coach in February in controversial circumstances.
For help in a crisis call 000. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Source: Read Full Article
