Cricket's flawed genius

Shane Warne's colourful career has witnessed amazing on-field successes but marred by a series of sex, drugs and gambling scandals.

Shane Warne's new Test wicket record tops one of the most colourful careers in cricket history in which phenomenal success on the field has been marred by a series of sex, drugs and gambling scandals.

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On his international debut against India in 1992, few would have predicted that the bleach-blond leg-spinner would go on to become the greatest Test wicket-taker in history with 533 scalps.

Warne's debut Test in Sydney was a nightmare as he conceded 150 runs for just one wicket, giving the impression that he had picked the wrong profession.

But the same player turned the cricket world upside-down a year later.

Warne bowled the so-called 'Ball of the Century' in the 1993 Old Trafford Test when he caught England batsman Mike Gatting with one that turned so viciously from outside the leg-stump that it hit the off.