England cricketers pay tribute to Shane Warne with a minute’s silence ahead of day four

England cricket team have paid tribute to iconic Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne with an emotional minute’s silence after he sadly passed away.

The Australian cricketer turned pundit passed away of a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand today.

The national team were quick to react to the tragic news by honouring the former cricket great, before play resumed during day four of their warm-up match against the West Indies in Antigua, as they prepare for a Test Series.

Ben Stokes (centre) and his England team-mates paid their respect to the legendary Australian leg-spinner Warner in Antigua

Ben Stokes led the England team as they stood with their heads bowed in silence for a minute before applauding to show their respects to the former Australian captain Warne.

The vice-captain, Stokes, also found time to tweet before heading back out on the pitch.

He tweeted: ‘Australian Legend. Was an honour to know you and work with you. This man is a LEGEND.’

England also paid tribute, by saying: ‘One of the greatest of all-time. A legend. A genius. You changed Cricket. RIP Shane Warne.’

Warne did recently hint at become the next England head coach when Chris Silverwood was axed.

Warne told the Sky News Cricket Podcast: “Yeah, I think I’d do a pretty good job.

“I think there’s a lot to work with, but I wouldn’t be called the coach. I think I’d be called team manager.

“I’d like to do it, there are so many good players in England, you’ve got a lot of depth, you’ve just got to get some of the basics right.’

Warne had recently hinted at becoming the next England head coach when Chris Silverwood was axed

The playboy larrikin of Australian cricket took 708 wickets in his illustrious 15 year career but was equally as noted for his life off the field as on it. 

He delivered the Ball of the Century with his first ball of the 1993 Ashes tour, bowling Mike Gatting with a ball that turned from well outside leg stump to clip the off bail. and instantly wrote himself into folklore.

He was banned in 2003 for taking a prohibited substance – which he blamed on his mother for giving him a diuretic to ‘improve his appearance’.

Warne took 708 wickets in his illustrious 15 year career and was equally known for his life off the field

But he returned in 2004 and in the Third Ashes Test of 2005, he became the first bowler in history to take 600 Test wickets.

Off the field, his exploits, beloved by the British tabloids took their toll on his marriage and he split from wife Simone, mother of his three children.

He was famously pictured in the News of the World in his underwear with models Coralie Eichholz and Emma Kearney following his divorce.

But he shocked the world when he hooked up and later became engaged to English actress Liz Hurley in 2010, before the pair eventually split in 2013. 

She reinvented him from knockabout Aussie to debonair gentleman with a sleek new look, and tamed some of his party spirit.  

Tributes have poured in for Warne from former and current cricket stars along with sporting stars.