Prime Minister Scott Morrison has offered his condolences following the sudden death of Australian cricket legend Shane Warne.
Warne has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 52.
He was found unresponsive at his villa in Thailand and could not be revived.
“Australians have woken in shock and sadness to the awful news of the death of Shane Warne, aged just 52,” Mr Morrison said.
“Shane was one of our greatest cricketers of all time, one of only a few that could approach the extraordinary achievements of the great Don Bradman.”
“His achievements were the product of his talent, discipline and passion for the game he loved,” the Prime Minister said.
“But xjmtzywShane was more than this to Australians. He was one of our nation’s greatest characters.
“His humour, his passion, his irreverence, his approachability ensured he was loved by all.”
Mr Morrison said all Australians loved Shane Warne.
“We are all bewildered today by this sad and sudden loss,” he said.
“And for this to happen the day after losing the indomitable Rod Marsh, it doesn’t seem imaginable.”
Australian Test Captain Pat Cummins released an emotional tribute to Shane Warne following the cricket legend’s sudden death.
Cummins recorded a video statement from his hotel room in Pakistan, where Australia is in the middle of a Test match.
“On behalf of the entire playing group and support staff here in Pakistan, I want to express our shock and sadness over Shane’s sudden passing,” he said.
“We are all numbed by the news. Shane was a once-in-a-century cricketer and his achievements will stand for all time, but apart from the wickets he took and the games he helped Australia win, what he did was draw so many people to the sport.
“So many of us in the playing group grew up idolising him and fell in love with this great sport as a result, while many of our support staff either played with him or against him.
“It has been a terrible couple of days for Australian cricket with the passing of Rod Marsh and now Shane. Our thoughts are with both families and, in Shane’s case, particularly with his parents Keith and Bridgette, his brother Jason and his children Jackson, Summer and Brooke.
“The game of cricket was never the same after Shane emerged, and it will never be the same now he has gone. Rest in peace, King.”
Warne, an Australian cricket great and the best leg-spinner of all time, died from a suspected heart attack in Thailand on Saturday.
It was the second blow for Australian cricket in 24 hours after the death of wicketkeeping great Rod Marsh.
Steve Smith, also in Pakistan with the national team, said it was “hard to fathom that we’ve lost two Australian legends within 24 hours”.
Opening batter David Warner said: “Two legends of our game have left us too soon. I’m lost for words, and this is extremely sad.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the Marsh and Warne family. I just cannot believe it. RIP, you will both be missed.”
Several other Australian cricketers including Nathan Lyon took to social media to express their shock and sadness at Warne’s death.
“Absolutely lost for words. The true GOAT. RIP Warnie,” Lyon said.
