Adam Gilchrist breaks down in sad tribute to Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds

Adam Gilchrist has broken down in tears while paying a heartbreaking tribute to late teammates Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds. Warne died after suffering a heart attack while holidaying in Thailand in March, before Symonds died in a car accident in Queensland in May.

The Aussie cricket greats have been constants in the commentary box for Fox Sports in summers gone past, with both teaming up on a number of occasions to call BBL matches. But as the 12th edition of the BBL got underway on Tuesday night, Warne and Symonds were notably absent.

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In a video tribute for Fox Sports, Warne and Symonds' former teammate Gilchrist was overcome with emotion. “We love the Big Bash, it’s our favourite time of the year,” he said. “It was Warnie and Roy’s as well, which makes this so hard.

“Their record on the field was well documented – they were national icons, they were our icons, our favourites here in the commentary box on Fox Cricket. The game goes on, it always does – but we miss our two mates.”

The video included the devastating moment Gilchrist broke down in tears before delivering his tribute. “It’s going to be a tough summer because we’re going to think of them everyday,” he said.

“What beautiful characters they were. It’s going to be fun remembering them and keeping that legacy going.”

During the BBL season opener in which the Sydney Thunder played the Melbourne Stars (Warne's former team), fellow former teammate Mark Waugh said it was difficult for the whole commentary team preparing for the summer. Waugh said: “(They’re) great mates and great guys as well. We grew up with them and we played a lot with those two guys. It’s hard they’re not here. You think you’re going to live forever.”

Sydney Thunder beat Melbourne Stars in BBL opener

Meanwhile, Gurinder Sandhu was the hero for the Thunder as the Sydney side beat the Stars in a final-ball thriller by one wicket. After the Thunder lost Chris Green (17) on the first ball of the last over, Sandhu (20 not out) belted a six over deep mid-wicket to get the equation down to one run off two balls.

After a dot ball the match ended in extraordinary fashion when Sandhu swing and missed at the final delivery, but Stars wicketkeeper Joe Clarke failed to catch the ball and it went to the boundary for four byes. Speaking about his match-winning knock, Sandhu said he'd backed himself to take on Stars bowler Beau Webster.

"I just wanted to keep it really simple, stay still, watch the ball, just react after that ... when you talk to batsmen, that's when they bat their best," he told reporters. "We didn't want to force it because we knew we had that one over of Beau ... we just said if it's in your zone then smack it. It's a good way to start and hopefully it sets the tone for the Big Bash."

Joe Burns and Marcus Stoinis both tested positive to Covid-19 on the day of the game, but were still permitted to play at Manuka Oval in accordance with relaxed biosecurity rules introduced this summer. To make matters worse for the Stars, Burns suffered a hamstring injury and retired hurt before Stoinis was dismissed for a golden duck.

with AAP

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