He was England's "greatest tormenter" on the cricket field, the man who took 195 Test wickets against the English team. 

From his earliest days in the game, Shane Warne was the player to watch, the superstar who delivered the "ball of the century" with his first ball in his first Ashes series. 

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It was enough to make even the staunchest English cricket fans sit up and take notice. Soon enough, he would earn their grudging respect.

It was at England's home of cricket that the spinner secured his legend: He won every Test he ever played here.

At the pub next door to Lord's Cricket Ground there was nothing but shock and grief over the Australian who redefined cricket.

Fans and reluctant supporters alike gave a toast to the England cricket team's old foe.

"Here's to Shane Warne," shouted one table of fans as they clinked glasses in tribute.

"I can't believe it," one added as they set their drinks down.

Paying tribute to a legend

The 52-year-old died of a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand.

"One of my friend's texted me the news. He's a legend in Australia and he's quite young," cricket fan Brendan Haran said.

"He's one of the greatest spin bowlers in Australia, in the world."

Australian Andrew Whillas, who works at Lord's, was preparing to have a beer in honour of the man affectionately referred to as Warnie.

He was "shocked" when he heard the news.

"I grew up watching Shane Warne," he told the ABC while out with friends at the pub.

Mr Whillas remembers the spinner once making a special request to only be served spaghetti bolognese "with no mushrooms" every night while on tour in the UK. All the other players were served gourmet food.

Those who worked with Warnie say he was great off and on the pitch.

"I was really shocked. I looked after Shane here, close protection a few times. A nice guy," Darren Gale said.

"[He was] very funny. Loved a cigarette … [and] very approachable."

"He's like a hero to me. I grew up watching him … He was a very humble gentlemen, so it was a privilege for me to be around him.

"… Everybody knows he's a legend, an absolute legend, and the world is going to miss him. Big loss."

As the news made its way around the world, even the fiercest English supporters – the members of England's Barmy Army – felt the impact of his loss.

'We wish he was English'

Paul Burnham, the founder of the Barmy Army and current chairman, remembers watching from the stands at Lord's Cricket Ground as Warnie dominated his team.

"The reaction today in England — I've never known a reaction to somebody dying in cricket like this," he told the ABC. "And bear in mind [he's] Australian."

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Warne was a "remarkable cricketer and, by all accounts, a remarkable cricketer off the pitch," Mr Burnham said.

"… [He] is probably the reason that England had that shocking period from the early 90s to 2005.

"… Right to the end he was an absolute legend. And as I always say, 'What's the biggest compliment you could pay to Shane Warne? It's that we always wish he'd been English.' We really do.

"History wouldn't have been the same if Shane Warne had been English for that period."

In Antigua, where England is playing a warm-up match on a tour of the West Indies, a minute's silence was held in remembrance of Warne.

Team captain Joe Root remembered the spinner as someone who "absolutely loved the world of cricket".

"[He] was always a joy to be around and gave so much energy to the sport," he said.

"Obviously as a kid growing up, [he] was a massive idol of mine. He was someone I wanted to emulate."