Shane Warne’s family and friends have attended a private funeral in his hometown of Melbourne to pay their respects to the cricket legend.
Shane Warne’s family and friends give Australia great farewell at private funeral (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Shane Warne’s family and friends attended a private funeral in his hometown
- The private memorial service was held at St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne
- Warne died on March 4 while vacationing with friends on the island of Samui
Shane Warne’s family and friends attended a private funeral in Melbourne on Sunday to bid a final farewell to the Australian cricket great.
Warne’s three children, parents and friends, including retired Test captains Mark Taylor and Allan Border and former England skipper Michael Vaughan, were among the approximately 80 guests at Sunday’s service.
The private funeral service was held at St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne and two Saints scarves were placed over the wooden coffin as pallbearers, including Warne’s son Jackson, carried it from the service for a lap of honor around Moorabbin Oval.
Warne was widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He died on March 4 while vacationing with friends on the island of Samui in southern Thailand. According to an autopsy report, Warne, 52, died of a suspected heart attack. McGuire hosted the funeral and gave the eulogy.
His remains were repatriated to Melbourne from Bangkok, Thailand, just over a week ago.
A state memorial at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – the scene of many of Warne’s legendary bowling moments, including a hat-trick against England in 1994 and his 700th Test wicket on Boxing Day 2006 – will open to the public on 30.
The site’s Great Southern Stand will also be renamed in honor of Warne.
