Jake Smith's cricketing tribute

Year 11 student Jake Smith was featured in The Canberra Times earlier this month following a poignant cricketing gesture performed in honour of recently deceased cricketer Shane Warne.

Sports reporter Isobel Cootes wrote:

‘Shane Warne's legacy cut across generational lines and this became apparent in Canberra last Sunday when a 16-year-old stepped up to bowl a legspin over in this honour.

‘It was sombre yet reflective moment at Neil Bulger Oval as Radford College and Marist College lined up for a minute's silence during the colts competition semi-final and donned black armbands to remember the former Australian bowler.

‘Radford's Jake Smith delivered an over honouring Warne's signature delivery, inspired by the 52-year-old's sudden passing.

‘He has been a legspinner since he took up cricket and, despite being born around the same time the 708-Test wicket cricketer retired from internationals, he has watched highlights online to perfect it.’

It was Radford’s Cricket Program Manager and coach, Wally Wright, who came up with the idea and suggested it to Jake, who agreed it was ‘a great initiative’.

Quoted in the article, Wally said:

‘For me personally, he was a hero and I was just thinking about the best way to honour him or give a tribute. And, obviously, Jake's a legspinner and the impact that Warnie had on legspin, so I just floated the idea with Jake prior to the game and said, 'I think this will be a fitting tribute.’

He then reconfigured things to allow Jake to deliver an over in Warne’s inimitable style.

Jake, 16, has been a keen cricketer since the age of eight and shares this passion with his sister, Amber (Year 9).

Canberra Times subscribers can view the full article here.

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