Warne prediction comes true as Parkinson earns unexpected England Test debut

The late, great Shane Warne was impressed with leg spinner Matt Parkinson last summer and thought he could ‘easily’ play Test cricket for England – and that prediction has now been realised

The Shane Warne Commentary Box was unveiled and officially opened at Lord’s amid much fanfare from his former colleagues at Sky Sports.

Had the legendary former leg spinner not passed away suddenly in March aged 52, he would have taken his place in that same box, in between cigarette breaks, and regaled those listening with his wit and insight.

Instead, his TV chums, including the visiting former Aussie skipper Mark Taylor, have themed the first Test match ‘Remembering Warne’ as a tribute to Australia’s greatest spinner who was as compelling to listen to on the mic as he was to watch bowling in the middle.

And at the end of the 23rd over with the score reading 37-6, the players on both sides paused to join in with a 23 second round of applause in honour of the man who was not only an MCC honorary life member but who was also the head coach of the London Spirit, the Hundred team based at Lord’s.

And it was in that capacity that Mirror Sport spoke with Warne last year to preview the new tournament and what it might bring to the game. As always Warne had plenty to say on plenty of subjects, but his loyalty to his craft of leg spin was total, and the art has lost its greatest promoter.

Lancashire leggie Matt Parkinson was the latest of its exponents to have Warne cast his expert eye over his abilities, and there can be little doubt that his eleventh hour call up as a concussion substitution for Jack Leach who injured himself fielding would have met with Warne’s approval.

“I really like Matt Parkinson,” said Warne, last summer. “And I reckon Parkinson is someone who could easily play Test cricket for England. He bowls at a beautiful pace and gets plenty of bounce so I think he could be an important weapon for England, and he might even get a go this year, maybe at Old Trafford.

“In Australia if you don’t have a good spinner you’re going to be in a lot of trouble. The wickets are flat and it gets so hot. You need to have a good spinner, and he gets lots of overspin.”

The Ashes might have come too soon for Parkinson last winter, but he’s hot footed it down to London and whenever he gets the chance to turn his arm over in a Test shirt it will be easy to continue remembering Warne.