Shane Warne and Moa shout the Aussies a Kiwi beer

Shane Warne and Moa shout the Aussies a Kiwi beer to celebrate ‘99 Not Out’

In Australia Shane Warne and Moa Beer have successfully concluded a nationwide Twitter search for his most disappointed fan, and are giving away Moa Beer to ‘celebrate’ the fateful day in trans-Tasman sporting history when Warne was caught out by New Zealander Mark Richardson at 99 runs on a no ball. Warne never got a century in his career.

Following the Twitter search, Warney was able to track down his most disappointed fan. West Australian cricket fan, Michael Earl, who famously melted down at the umpire when Warne was caught out on what was later seen to be a ‘no ball’.

Earl was identified with the help of Warne’s 1.5 million twitter fans within 24 hours.

Warne and Moa invited him to Melbourne for a beer with his idol and to settle the score.

“I was able to find the one bloke that seemed more disappointed than me on that day 13 years ago. We've had a beer and it seems all is forgiven”, said Warne.

As for Kiwi Mark Richardson, who ended Warne’s closest chance of scoring a century in his career, Warne says it’s probably time we did the same.

“I’m going to make sure he has the opportunity to try my beer, ’99 Not Out’, which he plays a part in the story of.

“It’s not currently available in New Zealand, but I’d love to share a couple with him at some stage, so I’ll make sure that happens.”

Today, all Australians who buy a craft beer at retailer BWS will get a free bottle of Moa’s ‘99 Not Out’.

“There’ll be lots of Aussies drinking Kiwi beer today. I never got my century, but at least it inspired a great brew,” said Warne.

Background

13 years ago, Shane Warne was tragically dismissed on 99 against the Kiwis off a no ball that the umpire missed. Unfortunately for Warne, when he retired he picked up the cricketing world’s least desired record - most test runs without scoring a test century - a record he still holds. On that day, when he blew easily his best chance of scoring a test century, Warne remembers seeing a particularly disappointed fan whose passionate reaction and obvious disappointment has stuck with him for all these years.

Now Warne’s got his own beer ’99 Not Out’ which was named after that fateful innings, he vowed to find that mystery fan, who was more disappointed than he was on the day, and buy him a beer as a make good.

With only a hand painted slogan on the bloke’s t-shirt to go on - ‘Warney’s Grouse at Cricket’ – he took to twitter to find the mystery fan. With 1.5 million followers, Warne’s search certainly didn’t take long – he was identified within 24 hours.

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