Shane Warne detail in new TV drama set to drive cricket fans wild

The actor entrusted with replicating one of Australian sport's best-known routines - Shane Warne's bowling action – enlisted the services of two former Test spinners to ensure he nailed the imitation. Alex Williams spent hours in the nets with former leg spinner Bryce McGain and left-arm orthodox spinner Steve O'Keefe in a bid to perfect Warne's action and mannerisms.

Viewers will be able to judge just how close Williams, who played cricket and is a big fan of the sport, gets to perfecting the master leggie when the two-part drama - Warnie – begins on Channel 9 this Sunday night. O'Keefe is confident the show, which airs a little over a year since the cricketing great's shock death, will do Warne justice.

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"We didn’t really work on delivery release or what the flipper looked like or what the wrong 'un looked like," O'Keefe told Yahoo Sport Australia. "We worked on the run-up – the walk, the seven steps, the grabbing of the sleeve, the push out in front.

"It was about all the idiosyncrasies Warnie was famous for, along with his celebrations and appeals. Alex was really invested in it. He worked hard and showed a lot of professionalism in getting it right.

"He wanted to do Warnie and his family justice by getting the portrayal as close as he could. And they wanted to ensure the cricket scenes were as authentic as possible."

Cricket fans tipped to be triggered by one scene

But cricket nuffies will jump on one scene where Warne lures a batsman down the track to claim a stumping. The only problem is the umpire at the bowler's end – not the square leg umpire – gives the batter out.

But Williams does a more than reasonable job impersonating one of the country's biggest sporting legends after countless hours studying his life on and off the field. "There was a lot to do to step into Shane’s shoes. I had to get his mannerisms and voice down, but also had to physically change my body a fair bit," he said.

"On top of all that was the cricketing side of things. It was important to me that the bowling and cricket be as authentic as possible in the show. I worked really hard on getting the bowling action and intent right."

Warne's family was against the idea of a mini-series so soon after the cricketer's death but were given the opportunity to view the series before it aired.

Warnie airs at 7pm on Sun, June 25 and 7.30pm on Mon, June 26 on Channel 9 & 9Now.

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