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Shane Warne's incredible act amid coronavirus crisis

Australian cricket legend Shane Warne has announced his gin distillery will start making hand sanitiser for hospitals amid the coronavirus crisis.

Warne and his business partners announced they were halting production of their SevenZeroEight gin in order to focus on producing sanitiser.

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“This is a challenging time for Australians and we all need to do what we can to help our healthcare system combat this disease and save lives,” Warne said in a statement.

“I am happy SevenZeroEight has the ability to make this shift and encourage others to do the same.”

Shane Warne, pictured here at the Big Bash match between the Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars in January.
Shane Warne at the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars in January.. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The move comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked companies to “make a wartime shift to produce medical supplies due to shortages and disruptions in overseas supply chains.”

Warne founded the gin last year with two West Australian doctors.

The company says “an agreement has been made to provide a continuous supply to two nominated Western Australia hospitals at cost.”

Warne’s company is also offering free shipping to encourage customers to stay away from shops and buy online.

Warne’s brilliant gesture for bushfire victims

The brilliant gesture is Warne’s second in recent times after he auctioned off his precious baggy green cap to raise money for bushfire victims in January.

The baggy green fetched more than $1 million at auction to aid those affected by bushfires, with the Commonwealth Bank revealed as the buyer.

The million-dollar sum more than doubled the previous record for bids on cricket memorabilia, shattering the benchmark Sir Don Bradman’s cap fetched by more than half a million dollars.

Proceeds will go to the Australian Red Cross bushfire appeal.

“I am delighted that CBA has been able to secure Shane's cherished baggy green cap,” chief executive Matt Comyn said in a statement.

Shane Warne, pictured here in action against England in 1997 in Manchester.
Shane Warne in action against England in 1997 in Manchester. (Photo by Tom Jenkins/Getty Images).

“I want to thank and commend Shane for giving up one of his most cherished possessions for such an important cause.”

One of Wisden's five cricketers of the century, Warne played 145 Tests and claimed 708 wickets.

The 50-year-old is Test cricket's second-most successful bowler behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan who took 800 wickets.

“Thank you so much to everyone that placed a bid and a huge thank you/congrats to the successful bidder - you have blown me away with your generosity and this was way beyond my expectations!” Warne posted on social media at the time.

“The money will go direct to the Red Cross bushfire appeal. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

with agencies