"Just like Warnie": Why Reece Walsh is just like Spin King

Ian Healy • September 10th, 2025 10:50 am

Speaking with Reece Walsh, I just could not get past an image of Warnie, in my mind.

The challenge of being Reece Walsh is similar to that faced by Shane Warne - our first ever superstar in cricket in Australia.

There had been Sachin Tendulkar in India, and one or two before him, but Warnie took on a lot in Australia.

There's so much expected performance wise from Reece Walsh and I think that's the bit he probably can get used to, and he is used to it.

He knows the goods and the bads of form switches, he tolerates performance critique and he's certainly very good at this game.

But there is so much he has to take on.

The attacking possibilities; his own, inside and outside him, in front of him, who am I running off, inside or outside

He’s got to have all that sorted in his mind and others have got to be comfortable with what he can deliver.

Defensive structures, which he controls, from the back of the back line, organising left, right, middles and then he's got to refine his very own rare instincts as a footballer. He's doing this all on the run at a young age.

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Teammates expect naturalness about their legend and their superstar.

The usual Reece Walsh, teammates will notice any change in his persona very, very quickly around the rooms and know that he's feeling some pressure.

They need to be ready to be supportive of whatever they can sense about him.

He got a lot to get down pat.

Then there's the fans and how much they expect from a very generous individual.

He spends so much time post-match giving things away, giving his time; that's the hardest thing to give to a lot of people who love the game.

Then there's the “non-fans” who have access to social media, which, I assume, in the hundreds of thousands every day, mention Reece Walsh in some way and that's one thing that Warnie probably didn't have.

But the number of times I saw Warnie get a phone call from someone that had got hold of his number and irritate him and frustrate him was really interesting.

There's the physical side of his preparation and getting that body right. He's under real pressure right now with that calf.

Reece tackles all this head on and he tries to stay normal amongst the team, but he just isn't.

Just like SK Warne, he isn't normal.

He's gold.