Ed Sheeran shares loving tribute to ‘big-hearted’ sports icon Shane Warne

Virgin Radio

16 Mar 2022, 14:59

Ed Sheeran has spoken candidly about his friendship with cricketer Shane Warne, who passed away from a heart attack earlier this month aged 52. 

The musician and sports star met in Australia, and the pair shared a close bond from that moment on.

Ed was discussing Shane while chatting on Australian TV show The Project, and reminisced about the good times they shared together. 

Talking about when they first met, Ed explained: “We met in 2014, when I was doing the Logies. He was staying at the hotel next to me, and do you remember he had that club at Crown?

"He took me and my friends there, and that was like the first time I'd hung out with him. Then - mate, he used to do some really amazing things. 

“I've got some friends that are huge into cricket, and he just offered one day like, 'Do you want me to take them to the nets at Lord's [in London]?"

Ed then gushed: “You guys know - the heart of that bloke was so big, and he's just such a lovely person inside and out. There's so many stories like that."

The A Team singer, who will return to Australia next year for his tour, recalled the time he travelled Down Under in 2015, and how Shane ended up playing cricket with his dad. 

Ed continued: "He took me in the nets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.He was bowling against my dad, and my dad was doing the hits and everything.

"Then I sort of whispered to him, "Give him one proper Shane Warne ball" - man, they fly don't they! They really fly."

Ed paid tribute to Shane when his death was announced on 4th March, and shared a snap of the legendary cricketer on his Instagram, alongside music mogul Michael Gudinski, who died aged 86 in March 2021.

In the sweet social media post, Ed wrote: “Shane was the kindest heart, and always went above and beyond to make people feel welcome and special. Such a gentleman. 

“He gave so many hours and years of his life to bring joy to others, and was such an amazing friend to me. Il [sic] bloody miss you mate. Absolutely gutted”