One of "I wish I was there," moments... Archbishop Desmond Tutu had cricket fans in fits of laughter at a charity dinner in Johannesburg, but he knows that even a Nobel Peace Prize winner can't compete with Shane Warne.
The reconciliation pioneer gave an emotional address which was part tear-jerker, part comedy routine and part cricket analysis to a charity dinner which included members of the Australian and South African cricket teams.
An auction of cricket memorabilia relating to South Africa's world-record score of 9-438 against Australia in the fifth one-day international at Johannesburg on March 12 was held to raise funds for the Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust, as part of celebrations of Tutu's 75th birthday.
The major item for auction was a framed scorecard of the match. Warne had everyone's attention after bidding an astonishing 95,000 Rand (roughly $A24,000).
"However, Warne was pipped at the post by a South African fan who placed the final bid of R105,000 for the item, a framed collage including a Proteas team shirt signed by the players, the official scorecards from both world record-breaking innings, and signed pictures of Herschelle Gibbs and Ricky Ponting during their century knocks as well as signed pictures of Makhaya Ntini and Graeme Smith," organisers said in a statement.
Tutu also presented one of his books, God has Dreams, to Ponting with a personal message from him to Glenn and Jane McGrath, who has cancer. "Please tell them we are thinking of them, and miss Glenn not being here," Tutu said.
Ponting said: "I thought he was terrific. I'd like to learn a bit more about what he's done. "He was pretty inspirational last night and pretty funny along with it."
Cricket South Africa and television broadcaster SABC organised the function.
Tutu received a standing ovation from the corporate guests who had watched a stirring video presentation of Tutu campaigning for an end to apartheid and also putting himself in the firing line to prevent angry mobs of protesters from undertaking violent acts.
At least one South African batsman was moved to tears by the video.
Ava g'day!
