Fans, cricket greats farewell spin king Shane Warne

Australian cricketer Shane Warne was farewelled at a state memorial at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday where tens of thousands of people gathered to remember one of the game’s finest players at his home stadium.

Warne, whose talent and personality transcended cricket, died of a suspected heart attack about three weeks ago at the age of 52 while on holiday in Thailand.

A private funeral service was held for Warne’s closest friends and family in Melbourne last week but all were invited to a televised memorial where his father, Keith, mourned the loss of “a loving and caring son” and his former team mates remembered a fierce and mischievous competitor.

“Shane said of himself, ‘I smoked, I drank and I played a little cricket,'” Keith Warne said in his eulogy.

“Mate, your mother and I can’t imagine a life without you. You have been taken too soon and our hearts are broken. Thank you for all you did for us.”

Shane Warne’s dad, Keith, says the family is thankful he touched so many lives.
Photo: AFP

Warne is arguably Australia’s most revered cricketer after the great Don Bradman, who regarded him the game’s best ever legspinner.

Greta Bradman, the granddaughter of the Depression-era batsman and captain, sang Australia’s national anthem at the evening memorial.

Shane Warne’s children, from left, Brooke, Jackson and Summer spoke at the service.
Photo: AFP

Former Australia skipper Allan Border thanked Warne for reinvigorating his captaincy, England’s Nasser Hussain remembered a “great sledger” and West Indies batting legend Brian Lara said he was the finest Australian he had ever played.

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara was among cricket greats who shared their memories of Shane Warne during the service.
Photo: AFP

A slew of athletes, Hollywood actors and musicians offered video tributes for a player who injected glamour into test cricket and was a huge fan of rock music.

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming described Warne as “one hell of a cricket player but an even better mate”. He recalled playing both golf and the card game 500 during rain breaks and said: “Never a dull moment with you, mate. I loved every minute of it. God speed.”

Briton Elton John sang his classic 1974 song Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, while Chris Martin, frontman for Coldplay, sang the rock group’s 2000 hit Yellow.

Longtime friend Sir Elton John performed via video link.
Photo: AFP

“Shane is a classic, an Australian legend and I was honoured to call him a friend,” 11-times world surfing champion Kelly Slater said in a video.

Fans filing into the MCG before the memorial paused at Warne’s statue outside the stadium, taking photos of the flowers, beer cans and cigarette packets left by others in the wake of his death.

A fan pays tribute to Shane Warne whose statue is at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Photo: AFP or licensors

Credited with reviving the art of legspin, Warne made his test debut in 1992 against India, kicking off a brilliant 15-year international career.

Though celebrated as a cricketing genius, he also courted controversy on and off the field.

He was suspended for a year for taking a banned diuretic and his private life was often tabloid fodder.

Australians forgave him his many transgressions, however, won over by his down-to-earth demeanour almost as much as his 708 test wickets and Ashes heroics.

Former Australia cricketer Adam Gilchrist arrives for the service.
Photo: AFP

– Reuters /ABC