CRICKET legend Henry Blofeld paid tribute to Shane Warne at the memorial. He also spoke about the time Warnie introduced him Jager-bombs to him.
Voice of Cricket - Commentator on BBC Radio's Test Match Special, 1972-2017 - Warne met him when he was a young Australian cricketer. They socialized regularly together.
Henry Blofeld (second from left) holds fond memories
of Shane Warne.
Warne, just 52 years old, died suddenly in Thailand on March 4, at the age of 52
Blofeld spoke today before the state memorial to Warne, hailed Warne as "extrovert", and stated that he feared for his friend's death while "an adventurer in Thailand".
Blowers, 82 said about Warne, who tragically died at 52 years old in Koh Samui's March 4th tragedy: "I was shocked but not completely surprised by his death."
"If Warnie was there along with male friends it was clearly a boys' holiday and they weren’t going to a hospital.
"But Warnie was an adventurer, and would try any thing and loved to live the full life.
"I understood there were girls there, and that didn't surprise me.
"Warnie was a huge sexual appetite and required female company - and he often had no problem finding it.
"It's a great tragedy, and the world is a less place for Warnie, an extrovert. Not being here."
An emotional service will be held at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday for Warne to be remembered by a crowd of 50,000, including former players Nasser Hussain (and Brian Lara) and the family of the deceased player.
It will be a fitting tribute for the star Blowers, a first-class cricketer who was injured before becoming a commentator. They first met in late 1980s when international games were being held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Blowers was awarded an OBE for services in broadcasting. He said that he was a talented player, cheeky chappie, and a bright-eyed chappie. He liked to drink, and loved the ladies.
"It was a Muslim nation where alcohol was supposedly prohibited, but the hotels that hosted the pundits and players became Majestic Wine warehouses.
Warnie used to come into my room and have a glass of wine. We'd sit together for hours laughing and discussing cricket.
He would then go off to chase female company. It was obvious at an early stage that he wasn’t getting eight hours of sleep each night.
He was an extrovert, and if that wasn't the case, he wouldn’t have been such great bowler. In the same way that Ian Botham wouldn’t have been such great player if his character wasn’t big enough.
"Warnie practiced and perfected his art, and made leg-spin-bowling an art form like none before."
After an incredible career that saw Warne take 708 Test wickets for Australia and become a dad-of-3, he became a pundit. He often mixed with Blowers during their time behind the microphone.
After the August 2016 England v Pakistan Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Warne and Blowers were photographed together alongside ex-England players Phil Tufnell and Michael Vaughan.
Blowers stated: "That was quite a evening, I can assure you.
"At the conclusion of the day's cricket, Tuffers, Vaughny, and I went to the hotel bar to get a drink.
"We had one bottle of red wine, which seemed to be well-received so we ordered another.
"Then Warnie appeared, and as always, he was with a lady.
"I had the impression they were old friends and had played a few rounds together before.
"She left and came back later to meet Warnie so he bought us a third wine.
"Then, when the bartender returned, he slammed down a glass on the table, and said, "Come on Blowers, you must try this."
On Wednesday, the Aussie received a wonderful send-off in Melbourne
Brooke and Jackson, Warne's kids, were present at the funeral
Son Jackson helped carry the coffin to the memorial service
Warne ordered his friend a Jagerbomb, a glass of Red Bull mixed with a shot Jagermeister in separate glasses.
Blowers said: "It tasted delicious, but I can still remember feeling a bit numb as I drank it. The shot glass in the glass fell down and hit my nose.
"But I got the hang it - we all had one, and I had three I think.
"I believe Warnie targeted me with first Jager-bomb. Not because I was oldest but because I was the one who tucked in the most.
"Warnie was giggling and encouraging me as he said it would be a good idea to try.
"We had a lot fun that night, and then Warnie disappeared - as it would be - and I can only assume he went to see his female companion.
"The next day, I was informed that Graeme Swann, an ex-England player, had put me to sleep that night."
Warne was working as a TV pundit at the Test and went to check on Blowers the following day in the TMS Studio.
Blowers spoke from his Norfolk cottage and said that "Warnie looked around the corner, I believe, expecting me to be struggling."
"In fact, I think he was somewhat disappointed to see that I was firing on all cylinders.
"I seem to have recovered faster than the young guns, and was at my best.
"I suggested that they go out again the next night to repeat the trick, but they all backed out."
Blowers, author and public speaker, last saw Warne at Lord's in 2019, when he returned to the ground after his retirement.
He stated that he went to Lord's to socialize and get a drink. Warnie came up to me and gave me a hug and a handshake. We had a good chat for fifteen minutes.
"Warnie always made time for me, and that is something I have always appreciated."
Warne, whose body was returned home to Australia on Thursday, was married to Simone Callahan from ten years to 2005. They had three children: Brooke, 24; Jackson, 22; Summer, 20.
Later, he dated Liz Hurley, a model from 2010 to 2013.
Blowers stated: "Warnie was an adventurer but he was also a father.
"I heard him talk with great affection about his children and that he used to buy presents for them when he was gone.
"But women were his weakness.
Warne and Simone Callahan have three children together
Warnie made spin bowling an art form - he was the master craftsman
Blofeld, legendary broadcaster and cricket icon, raises a toast
"He achieved a lot of success, so my hat is off to him.
"His address book would fetch lots of money, I would imagine.
"Warnie was proud of their relationship. He had his leg pulled on a lot about Liz Hurley.
"He was a great character in the game, and it is extremely sad that he has passed young, especially for his friends and family.
"He was supposed to commentate in England this Summer - and frankly, the sport and our summer will be much duller for his passing.
"Warnie was strongly against the woke-brigade, and would speak his mind.
"He lived his whole life as if he were playing cricket. You never knew what he would bring to the table."
"We all conform, and we are as scared of waking up as we are of Putin.
Warne will be greatly missed for this reason: he was non-conformist.
"But he took 708 wickets and transformed cricket into a new art form, making leg-spin a new art form.
"I wish he is remembered for this and we need more people such as Warnie in this world - but maybe not too many!"
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