'The worst phone call of my life': Jackson Warne reveals details about moment he first learnt of his beloved father Shane Warne's death, as the cricket legend's $20.7 million estate is revealed

Sky News AU

15 hours ago

Jackson Warne has bravely opened up for the first time about the heartbreaking moment he learned his father Shane Warne had died.
The 26-year-old son of the late great cricket legend, who died suddenly from a heart attack on March 4, 2022, shared the deeply personal story on the debut episode of his new podcast, Warne's Way.
Joined by the King of Spin's close friend, sports broadcaster Mark Howard, host of The Howie Games, Jackson recounted how the tragic news came in two separate calls from his father's long-time manager, James Erskine.
Warne, affectionately known as 'Warnie', was holidaying in Ko Samui, Thailand, when he died at just 52.
"I found out from a phone call. The worst phone call of my life," Jackson said.
The budding professional poker player explained that the first call from Erskine was to say his father "had a heart attack, it was a massive one" and that everyone was "trying to see what they could do".
"And then it was only maybe an hour and a half, and it was the worst hour and a half of all time," Jackson recalled.
"Kiah (Jackson's partner) was there, my mum, my other sister Brooke and her partner, and yeah, that was just the worst hour and a half cause we're like, 'What the f***, what has just happened?'"
Jackson said part of him believed that because his father had already overcome so many challenges in life, "there's just no way he's not going to be here if we get another phone call".
"There's just no way I'm never going to see him again, or there's just no way I'm never going to hear his voice again, or text me how I'm going in poker – there's just not, I don't believe it," he said.
"But then… after an hour and a half, unfortunately… everyone burst out crying. It didn't feel real."
Initially, Jackson felt "a lot of anger" about his father's death, but now he looks back with "an immense amount of love and pride".
"And I think now that's why whenever I'm talking about him, I'm speaking out of such love, because I put him up so high," he said.
"Like, I don't care about all that stuff, I don't care if he should still be here, because he's not, and I can't really think like that."
He added that his father's "massive energy" is still felt every day.
"Everything you do- when you're hopping into bed, when you're watching TV- it's just such a big presence that you feel. And when they're gone, you just can't fathom it."
Jackson revealed that starting the podcast was inspired by his dad, with the idea originally being something they had discussed doing together.
"My whole life, I was always absorbing and watching and listening how dad was with people, and on camera, and in interviews, or whatever he was doing- that now when I'm able to talk on camera or about dad, I can do it with such confidence, and it's only because I got to see how he was his whole life, that now I feel like I'm a little bit of his mini-me."
Widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest ever players, Shane Warne made 154 Test appearances and took 708 wickets for Australia.
Almost a year after his death, the Supreme Court released his last will, dated December 3, 2021, which revealed his $20.7 million fortune would be divided between his three children, Brooke, 28, Jackson, 26, and Summer, 23, each inheriting 31 per cent of his estate.
The portfolio included a Portsea home on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula valued at $6.5 million, a $1.2 million deposit on a St Kilda property, $5 million in a Commonwealth Bank account, over $260,000 in shares, $514,000 in overseas bank accounts, and $2.85 million in foreign shares.
His personal collection of vehicles, a BMW, a Mercedes-Benz and a Yamaha motorbike, worth $375,500, was left to Jackson, whom Warne described in his will as his "best mate"