Adam Gilchrist pays emotional tribute to ‘national icons’ Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds

Adam Gilchrist paid a moving tribute to the late Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds as the Big Bash League kicked off Tuesday night.

The spinning king died in March at the age of 52 while on holiday in Thailand, while Symonds died two months later in a car crash in Townsville.

Both were regulars on the BBL’s Fox Cricket coverage and would have been part of the commentary team this season.

Adam Gilchrist paid moving tribute to the late Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds

And a visibly emotional Gilchrist fought back tears as he paid a moving tribute to his late teammates before the first game of the competition between the Melbourne Stars, Warne’s former team, and the Sydney Thunder.

“We love the Big Bash, it’s our favorite time of the year,” the Australian cricket great said on Fox Cricket.

‘You know it was Warnie and Roy’s [Symonds’] Also, what makes this so difficult.

“Their track record on the field was well documented: they were national icons, they were our icons, our favorites here in the comment box.”

The Australian cricket legend fought back tears as he remembered his teammates.

“The game goes on, it always does, but we miss our two teammates.”

Gilchrist’s words served as the soundtrack to a montage featuring Warne and Symonds’ best moments for Australia in Test matches and ODI cricket.

Warne played in the first two seasons of the BBL, which started just three months before Symonds retired in February 2012.

But the duo provided some memorable contributions to the competition in their commentary roles, through a combination of sharp analysis and their trademark humor.

Warne and Symonds passed away within two months of each other in March and May of this year.

Warne (left), Symonds (centre) and Gilchrist (right) were crucial figures in the all-powerful Australian team that ruled cricket in multiple formats in the 1990s and 2000s.

Some of those moments became tributes, with Symonds arguing that the new bails affect the ‘gravitational pull’ on stumps and Warne explaining why seagulls look in a certain direction.

“It’s going to be a tough summer because we’re going to think about them every day,” Gilchrist admitted.

‘What beautiful characters they were.

Warne (left) was a regular on Fox Cricket’s commentary box along with Gilchrist (right)

Gilchrist (left) also shared the comment box during BBL games with Symonds (right)

“It will be fun to remember them and keep that legacy going.”

Former Australia captain Mark Waugh took a similar tone, admitting it would be “difficult” to be without Warne and Symonds.

‘[They were] great guys and great guys too,’ said Waugh, who is also part of Fox Cricket’s commentary team.

We grew up with them and played a lot with those two guys. It’s hard they’re not here. You think you’re going to live forever.