One of Shane Warne’s former foes Nasser Hussain has described the legendary legspinner as the greatest cricketer who ever lived.
From his first Test to his last, the late, great #ShaneWarne takes you through the big and important moments from his career pic.twitter.com/UgZkLPvxC6
Warne finished his career in 2007 with 708 Test wickets and was named as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century alongside Don Bradman, Garfield Sobers, Jack Hobbs and Viv Richards.
“The greatest cricketer who has ever played the game,” Hussain told Fox Sports before the service began. “Unbelievable cricketer and bloke.”
Nasser Hussain pays tribute to Shane Warne with a beautiful rendition of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’.
Warne’s public memorial service is being held at the MCG in Australia on Wednesday at 1:30pm IST. pic.twitter.com/2hHZM7T7hm
In a panel discussion in the middle of the MCG with former Australian stars Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Merv Hughes, and West Indies legend Brian Lara, Hussain told a story about Warne getting him out in a tri-series final in 1999.
“I sledged him for some apparent reason and I’ve said something ‘like enjoy your last game as captain’,” Hussain said during the service. I’ll be surprised if you haven’t got the footage of me running down the pitch, very next delivery after that slog sweep and getting stumped.
The ‘Shane Warne Stand’ is unveiled at the MCG by his children – Brooke, Jackson, and Summer – during the state memorial service for the Australia legend pic.twitter.com/mhMb8W3Vck
Hughes recounted a story of Warne memorably honouring a promise for a kindergarten auction and praised his generosity.
“A very loyal friend, and as good as he was in the cricket field, he was five times better off it. Very loyal, and if he said he was going to do something, he would deliver.”
Shane Warne took 64 Test wickets at the @SCG. A tribute featuring the scorecards of each Test wicket hugs the boundary tonight. #LoveOurSCGpic.twitter.com/9cT0kgSLgD
But Warne’s sporting interests were not just confined to cricket, with AFL club St Kilda one of his great passions. Retired Saints champion Nick Riewoldt was one of Warne’s all-time favourite AFL players.
Riewoldt could not believe one of Australia’s greatest sportspeople worshipped him. “He was just a massive fan and enormous mentor to all St Kilda people.”
‘Nothing will be more upsetting about how much I already miss you, dad’
A trumpeter played St Kilda’s theme song, ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ near the conclusion of the service.
A number of former AFL stars who did not even play for St Kilda, including Gary Ablett Jnr and Brendan Fevola, were in the audience.
Tonight we farewell a legend.
Shane Warne inspired a generation of cricketers, and provided countless irreplaceable memories.
If you’re coming to the State Memorial Service tonight, please read through the important information on our website prior to arriving at the MCG. pic.twitter.com/WRHN39POVG
The Great Southern Stand at the MCG was formally unveiled as the Shane Warne Stand by his children – Brooke, Summer and Jackson – to close an epic ceremony.
pic.twitter.com/UgZkLPvxC6
Watch the #ShaneWarne memorial on @foxtel
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@MCG pic.twitter.com/pAtjmiP45j
Live Blog: https://t.co/3YN6OSsA0I
