Shane Watson, former Australia all-rounder, said on The ICC Review how much he learned from Shane Warne and how influential the champion leg-spinner was in Shane’s career.

Watson made his debut for Australia in 2002, when Warne was at the pinnacle of his powers for his nation, and their careers also crossed paths at the domestic level, when they played together at English county club Hampshire and then again with the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

An emotional Watson paid homage to his close friend and former teammate and stated how much the Australian great meant to him on The ICC Review, ahead of Warne’s state funeral at his beloved Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.

“It’s just difficult to explain.”