Shane Warne dies: Tendulkar, Kohli and Lara join with tributes for Australia great

Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Brian Lara have joined a host of cricketers to pay tributes to Shane Warne after he died aged 52.

The Australian great's management confirmed to Stats Perform that Warne had passed away, having been found unresponsive in his villa in Thailand on Friday.

Warne picked up 708 Test wickets across a remarkable 15-year career, with only rival and fellow spinner Muttiah Muralitharan managing more in history.

He took 195 wickets in Ashes outings alone, and was a victor in seven series. His final Test series was the home Ashes in 2006-07, where Australia thumped England 5-0, in which he claimed his 700th wicket.

Legendary Indian batter Teundulkar joined the likes of Ian Botham, Ben Stokes and Adam Gilchrist as he posted his memories of Warne.

"Shocked, stunned & miserable…," Tendulkar wrote. "Will miss you Warnie. There was never a dull moment with you around, on or off the field.

"Will always treasure our on field duels & off field banter. You always had a special place for India & Indians had a special place for you. Gone too young!"

Shocked, stunned & miserable…Will miss you Warnie. There was never a dull moment with you around, on or off the field. Will always treasure our on field duels & off field banter. You always had a special place for India & Indians had a special place for you.Gone too young! pic.twitter.com/219zIomwjB
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 4, 2022

Fellow Indian star Kohli echoed Tendulkar's sentiments, writing: "Life is so fickle and unpredictable.

"I cannot process the passing of this great of our sport and also a person I got to know off the field. RIP ‪#goat [greatest of all time]. Greatest to turn the cricket ball."

West Indies Lara also sent his condolences to Warne's family, posting with a broken heart: "Speechless at the moment. I literally don't know how to sum up this situation. My friend is gone!!

"We have lost one of the Greatest Sportsmen of all time!! My condolences goes out to his family. RIP Warnie!! You will be missed."

And speechless at the moment. I literally don’t know how to sum up this situation. My friend is gone!!We have lost one of the Greatest Sportsmen of all time!!My condolences goes out to his family.RIP Warnie!! You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/sQOrL9dIyM
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) March 4, 2022

Steve Harmison, who faced up against Warne in the 2005 and 2006-07 Ashes series, added: "Words will never be good enough to describe Warne. Today's news is devastating.

"He was 'The GREATEST' the game has seen… Our thoughts go out to his family."

A minute's silence was held ahead of the start of play in Antigua, where England are playing a warm-up game against a President’s XI ahead of their Test series against West Indies.