Warne showered with tributes

Historic moment: Pathan becomes Warne's 533rd victim in Test cricket

Tributes flowed in for Shane Warne after the Australian became the highest wicket-taker in Test history.

Leg-spinner Warne claimed his 533rd victim when India's Irfan Pathan was caught at slip in Madras.

"He thoroughly deserves it. As far as I am concerned he is one of the all-time greats of the game," said captain Ricky Ponting.

And Warne's mentor Terry Jenner commented: "It's a reward for magnificent service to spin bowling."

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The 35-year-old first hit the headlines in 1993 when he bowled England's Mike Gatting during a Test at Old Trafford with a so-called 'miracle ball' which pitched outside leg stump and hit the top of off.

He returned his best Test figures of 8-71 in an Ashes Test at Brisbane the following year and achieved a hat-trick in the next match in Melbourne.

Warne went on to be named as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the 20th century.

And despite injury problems and a year-long ban for failing a drugs test, he became the first spinner in history to take 500 wickets earlier this year.

He just loves playing for Australia - it's what he believes he's here to do Terry Jenner

But Sri Lankan rival Muttiah Muralitharan was the first to overtake Courtney Walsh's previous record of 519 and extended it to 532 before suffering a shoulder problem.

The injury required surgery, giving Warne the chance to break the record against India.

"Hopefully he can open up a bit of a gap on Murali. He's still got a few years left in the game," said Jenner.

"I don't think he's changed that much [over the years].

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"He struggled a bit in the late 90s with shoulder injuries but that aside, he's been taking about five wickets per Test match and I think he'll keep taking wickets at that rate."

Sutherland added: "Shane's ability to dismiss all types of batsmen in a variety of conditions makes him one of the greatest bowlers in cricket's history.

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"In addition to his feats on the ground, Shane has played a pivotal role in revolutionising the art of leg spin bowling, which has inspired a new generation of children to the craft."

The record crowns a highly successful year for Warne, who also captained Hampshire to promotion in England's County Championship.