Photo Credit: Rajasthan Royals
The fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) doffed their hats to pay respects to local boy Shane Warne at 3:50 PM.
Cricket fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Shane Warne on the opening day of the fourth India vs Australia Test match on Thursday.
The stadium, packed with over 85,000 spectators, saw the fans doff their hats in unison at 3:50 PM local time, honouring Warne’s iconic celebration. The tribute during the Boxing Day Test was led by Warne’s children Jackson and Brooke while the timing symbolised his Test cap number 350.
Cricket Australia shared the touching tribute for the King of Spin on its social media channels.
For the Victoria-born Warne, the MCG was more than just a stadium as many of his greatest accomplishments unfolded at this venue.
During the 1994 Boxing Day Test against England, Warne claimed a hat-trick, dismissing Phil DeFreitas, Darren Gough and Devon Malcolm. His 700th Test wicket came on this ground during the 2006-07 Ashes series when he accounted for Andrew Strauss.
The MCG also became the venue for Warne’s public memorial service in March 2022. In a fitting tribute, the Great Southern Stand was renamed the Shane Warne Stand, ensuring his name remains synonymous with the ground he graced so often.
Warne’s impact on cricket extended far beyond his bowling. His ability to inspire and get the best out of his team is what made a youthful Rajasthan Royals team the champions of the inaugural Indian Premier League in 2008.
The only non-Indian captain in the IPL 2008, Warne led a team filled with youngsters like Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan and Munaf Patel to a famous title. His contributions to the Royals continued as a mentor and he remained a cherished member of the Royals family.
In 2022, the Royals honoured Warne with a special tribute during their match against the Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The players wore special jerseys emblazoned with SW23. Warne’s jersey number for the Royals was 23.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Stay ahead of the latest cricket industry trends by subscribing to our free cricexec “daily briefing” newsletter.
Name of Author: Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals (RR) are a professional cricket team based in Jaipur, Rajasthan, competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Founded in 2008 as one of the original IPL franchises, the team is owned by Manoj Badale and The Royals Sports Group. The Royals play their home matches at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur and ACA Stadium in Guwahati, and are known for discovering obscure and high-potential talent.
