CRICKETING legend Shane Warne has tweeted his appreciation of Bolton bowler Matt Parkinson after the Lancashire leg spinner produced a delivery that had fans comparing the 24-year-old to Australia's record wicket taker.

Playing in his first Championship game for Lancashire since September 2019, Parkinson's delivery saw him flight a ball which went on to pitch well outside leg stump before turning viciously and hitting Northamptonshire skipper and wicketkeeper Adam Rossington's off stump.

"I just thought 'sack it' and tried to really rip it and luckily it paid off," said Parkinson afterwards. "There were decent foot holes there and I tried to bowl it quite fast. I know it's doing the rounds on Twitter but to produce that for the team is fantastic and I'm very happy. It's nice to have it trending on Twitter after the winter I've had but it's nice just to play cricket."

Social media was immediately abuzz with fans sharing clips of the wicket and proclaiming it an extraordinary piece of bowling.

Many compared it to Warne's famous 'Ball of the Century' which saw the Australian bowl England's Mike Gatting on the same ground at Emirates Old Trafford with his first Test delivery in the country in 1993.

Warne congratulated the 24-year-old former Bolton School student on Twitter, but made sure he reminded everyone his ball 28 years ago was his first delivery of the series.

“Wow! Was that his first ball of the summer too? Hahahaha. Love it, congrats mate and well bowled. Spin to win,” Warne tweeted on Saturday.

 

Parkinson, who began his career at Heaton Cricket Club, has played 20 first-class matches to date, claiming 62 wickets at a commendable average of 25.22.

He has represented England in two ODIs and two T20 internationals, but is yet to make his Test debut after a winter where he toured with the Test squad as a reserve.