In typical Shane Warne fashion the end was mired in controversy.

When 41-year-old Warne went into the final competitive match of his career yesterday, for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, he did so having been fined 50,000 (£31,000) this week for a public row with an administrator.

Another day, another outburst in a career full of records, rows and brilliance.

The beauty of Warne, who has spent the last four seasons playing for the Royals in the Twenty20 form of the game, is that it is the brilliance we will remember.

"It was a hard decision to make as I have really enjoyed playing the IPL," Warne said of his retirement on his website.

"My life, like everyone's, has been full of highs and lows. I have been fortunate to experience many more highs than lows and for that I am very lucky."

So are those who had the opportunity to witness his 708 Test wickets, his ten wickets in a Test match on ten occasions and the abrasive exuberance with which he played his cricket.

He was the first person with whom former Australian captain Ricky Ponting consulted and was described as the best captain Australia never had.

He took a Test hat-trick, won the man-of-the-match prize in a World Cup final and took on England more or less by himself in the 2005 Ashes, in which he claimed 40 victims.