Shane Warne’s grieving daughter in tears as family and celebs gather and a BILLION tune in for cricket legend’s memorial
SHANE Warne’s grieving daughter has been left in tears as family and celebs gather and a billion people tune in worldwide for the cricketing king’s memorial.
A teary-eyed Brooke Warne was seen welcoming in mourners attender her father’s memorial in the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
An extraordinary 300 million are expected to watch the memorial in India, with the service also being broadcast to hundreds of millions in Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UK from 7pm Melbourne time, MC Eddie McGuire revealed.
Warne’s ex-wife Simone Callahan and three kids are expected to attend the lighthearted memorial dubbed to be the “greatest party ever” in a nod to the cricketer’s party-boy lifestyle.
His son Jackson, 22, was spotted carrying a slab of lemon flavoured vodka drinks into the bus for funeral guests.
Among those attending include Aussie pop stars Danii and Kylie Minogue while Hugh Jackson paid tribute in a pre-recorded message.
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Sir Elton John also paid tribute to his great friend ahead of dedicating the poignant Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me to Warne’s children Brooke, Summer and Jackson with his band from their American tour.
“It’s sad day today but it’s not in other ways … because his legacy will live on,” John said.
“He loved to play cricket … and he loved life.”
Sir Elton became close with Warne in the 90s and is reported to ahve introduced the loveable larrikin to his future fiancé actor Elizabeth Hurley at his Windsor home.
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Meanwhile, Kylie Minogue shared a deeply personal story about a family BBQ with the Warnes at her parents’ home in Melbourne and Coldplay’s Chris Martin performed Yellow for his “good friend”.
“Opening the door, there they are, Shane with his blue eyes and big cheeky smile…he had that star quality and charisma the world got to know and love and it was exactly the same at the front door step as it was on the cricket field,” she said via video.
“How lucky we were to get to know that…that light will continue to burn bright in our memories forever more. We will miss you Warnie.”
More than 51,000 tickets were given away, with millions more expected to watch across Australia as Warne’s tribute goes wall to wall on free-to-air television and Foxtel in Australia.
People have travelled from across the country to pay their respects to Warne, in what was expected to be a tearful and joyful celebration.
Brielle Beatson, 32, flew from Brisbane with her mother Leanne, 66.
“I was quite devastated,” Ms Beatson said when she heard the news of Warne’s death in Thailand on March 4.
“I was on the Ticketek website at 3pm and kept refreshing when the tickets were available.”
He had that star quality and charisma the world got to know and love… We will miss you Warnie.
Kylie Minogue
The cricket fan said she wanted to be part of what will be a special night.
“I was here at the MCG when Warne made 99,” she said.
Leanne, from Alexandra Hills, Brisbane, said she was “shocked” at Warne’s sudden passing.
“I’m from Brisbane but in the AFL in Melbourne, everyone knows Dusty, (Dustin Martin) but the whole world knew Shane Warne – he was a rockstar who could spin a ball.”
Ian Hasler, 51, came from Bendigo, about two hours outside of Melbourne.
He was standing near the Shane Warne stand, which was still flooding with flowers and tributes, ahead of the service.
“We came to the Boxing Day Test every year for 15 years,” he said.
“I was driving past the MCG when he took his 700th wicket – you could hear the roar from outside.”
Mr Hasler said it was the first time he had been at the MCG since the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
“I’m a big cricket fan, I’m a big fan of Warney’s,” he said.
A two-way stage was set up on the ground, with large screens on either side.
The MCG scoreboards were also being used as part of the broadcast.
REMEMBERING A LEGEND
About 500 seats were reserved for dignitaries, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison who flew down from Canberra after budget duties.
Fans were seated on both sides of the ground, with the majority of the crowd in the members and Ponsford stands.
The set up was to allow best viewing for a spectacular lights show due at the end of the two-hour service when the Great Southern Stand will be officially renamed the Shane Warne stand.
Earlier in the day, Guy Lavender, the chief executive of the Marylebone Cricket Club (Lord’s) laid a wreath at Warne’s statue.
He had travelled from London to attend, representing the UK cricket community.
Warnie’s heartbroken family bid farewell to the spinner 10 days ago in his home city of Melbourne.
Warne, widely considered one of the finest bowlers of all time, died suddenly earlier this month aged 52.
He had been on holiday on the Thai resort island of Koh Samui when tragedy struck.
About 80 people attended the service, including retired Australian Test captains Mark Taylor, Allan Border and Michael Clarke, and Aussie singer and TV personality Dannii Minogue.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was also present, as well as Warne’s long-time teammates Mark Waugh and Ian Healy.
Warne’s relatives were pictured walking behind the hearse carrying Warne’s coffin on a lap of St Kilda Football Club.
In an emotional speech at the service, close friend Eddie McGuire said: “He was simply the best.”
Warne captained the Australia national team in One Day Internationals and was widely considered one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history.
He played domestic cricket for his home state of Victoria and English domestic cricket for Hampshire.
He was captain of Hampshire for three seasons from 2005 to 2007 and played his first Test match in 1992, going on to take over 1,000 international wickets.
Perhaps the most-viewed cricket clip of all time, Warne’s Ball of the Century at Old Trafford in 1993 was the start of the leg-spinner’s legend.
His very first delivery in Ashes cricket swerved in the air, landed outside Mike Gatting’s leg stump and turned so savagely that it clipped the top of off stump.
Australia won the match and clinched the Ashes.