Shane Warne played his final Test at the SCG in January 2007 — retiring with 708 wickets, the world record at the time (later broken by Muralitharan), after completing the 5-0 Ashes whitewash. His final wicket: Andrew Flintoff, caught at slip.
Shane Warne had announced before the 2006-07 Ashes series that it would be his last. Australia won 5-0. Warne took 23 wickets across the series. The final Test at the SCG was his 145th and last.
Warne had been the central figure of Australian cricket for 14 years. His 145 Tests, 708 wickets, and the transformation of leg-spin from a dying art to the most watched individual discipline in cricket all needed a worthy send-off.
On day four of the Sydney Test, Australia had already won the match and the series. Warne bowled in England's second innings. His final wicket was Andrew Flintoff — caught by Damien Martyn at slip off a vicious turning leg-break that Flintoff never saw.
Warne walked off the SCG to a standing ovation that lasted five minutes. Glenn McGrath — who was also retiring in the same Test — walked off beside him. Two of cricket's three greatest bowlers of the 20th-21st century, retiring simultaneously.
708 wickets. Leg-spin revived. 145 Tests. Four Ashes series wins. Two World Cups. The most discussed player in cricket's history, on and off the field.
Warne's 708th wicket — Flintoff caught at slip
The SCG standing ovation — five minutes of acknowledgment
Warne and McGrath walking off together — the end of an era
June 1993
Ball of the Century vs Gatting — Warne announces himself
2004
Warne passes Courtney Walsh's wicket record of 519 — becomes world's leading wicket-taker
January 5, 2007
Final wicket — Flintoff caught at slip, Warne retires 708
Warne became a successful commentator and coach, widely celebrated for his cricket insight and charisma. He died suddenly in March 2022 at age 52 from a heart attack — cricket mourned one of its most beloved figures. The SCG's Shane Warne Stand was named for him.
The most complete farewell in cricket's modern history — retiring simultaneously with McGrath, after a 5-0 Ashes win, at his home ground in Sydney. Warne's career ended with every statistical and emotional box checked.
Warne's 708 wickets are the second-most in Test history, behind only Muralitharan's 800. His impact on leg-spin bowling globally cannot be overstated — he revived it in 1993 and dominated with it for 14 years, inspiring every leg-spinner from Anil Kumble to Yasir Shah to Adam Zampa.
Australia vs West Indies
1960-12-14
The first tied Test in 86 years of cricket history — Australia and West Indies finished level on 737 runs each after five days of breathless cricket in Brisbane, producing one of the most dramatic finishes the game has ever seen.
India vs Australia
1986-09-22
Twenty-six years after Brisbane, cricket produced only its second tied Test — Dean Jones's heroic 210 through crippling heat and Dean Jones's fever, Ravi Shastri's unbeaten 48 and India needing 2 off the last over, only for Maninder Singh to be out lbw off the final ball.
Australia vs South Africa
1999-06-17
Lance Klusener smashed Australia to the brink of elimination, then ran out Allan Donald off the penultimate ball to tie the match — but Australia advanced to the final on superior run rate, ending South Africa's greatest World Cup campaign in devastating fashion.