Warne spins out fan 13 years on
Shane Warne couldn't believe it. Australia couldn't believe it. New Zealand couldn't stop laughing.
It is 2001 at the WACA Ground and the champion leg spinner is one run short of a memorable first Test century.
He sweeps Daniel Vettori high into the sky and is caught off what was later revealed to be a no ball.
As Warne trudged off, there was one bloke who was even more disappointed than him. Wearing a white T-shirt daubed with the words "Warney's grouse at cricket", the distraught fan was captured by the cameras furiously battering his floppy hat in frustration.
Thirteen years on and that fan has been revealed - and Australia's greatest wicket-taker has apologised in person for falling one run short of the magic 100.
Margaret River electrician Michael Earl was that irate fan in the outer.
After a Twitter appeal from Warne this week to find him, Mr Earl owned up and was flown to Melbourne to meet the leg spinner who caused him so much grief.
"It has been so bizarre - I was not even on Twitter but my phone has been going mental," Mr Earl said. "I went online, found out what the fuss was and here I am having a beer with Warney."
Warne's appeal to find Mr Earl was part of a promotion to apologise to the nation for his WACA wobble, with a free bottle of his 99 Not Out beer available at BWS today.
"Thanks to the power of the public, I was able to find the bloke more disappointed than me on that day 13 years ago," Warne said.
"We've just had a beer and it seems all is forgiven."
Warne even managed to come up with tickets to West Coast's clash with Collingwood at the MCG tomorrow as an extra act of contrition for Mr Earl and fiancee Kym.
But the electrician is not likely to show the same emotion at the football match as he did in 2001 - he supports Fremantle.
