SHANE Warne’s heartbroken family today bid farewell to the cricket legend.
Scores of mourners gathered for the emotional send-off in his hometown in Melbourne.
Shane Warne’s coffin is carried at a private funeral in Melbourne
Warne’s ex-wife Simone Callahan and other guests raise a class to the cricket legend
Family and friends follow the hearse on a lap of St Kilda Football Club
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 today’s 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.
But Warne’s ex-fiancée Liz Hurley was not in attendance as she is stuck working in the UK.
READ MORE ON SHANE WARNE
The actress said she was devastated to be missing the memorial, adding: “My heart aches that I can’t be in Australia for Shane’s funeral.
“I was filming last night and, with the time jump, physically can’t get there.”
Warne’s relatives were pictured walking behind the hearse carrying Warne’s coffin on a lap of St Kilda Football Club.
His ex-wife Simone Callahan also raised a glass to the sportsman alongside his loved ones.
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 and took 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. Gatting’s bemused look as he trudged off was a picture.
‘SIMPLY THE BEST’
On December 21, 2006, Warned announced his retirement following the fifth Ashes Test match at the SCG.
He said it was his intention to “go out on top” and added that he might have retired after the 2005 Ashes series if Australia had won.
Tributes poured in following the news of his death, with many describing him as a “genius”.
Piers Morgan said Warne was a “genius cricketer, a supreme entertainer, a fantastic bloke and a great loyal friend for many years”.
Gary Lineker added: “Terribly saddened and shocked to hear the news that Shane Warne has died.
“The greatest spin bowler of all time. Can’t quite believe it. RIP Shane.”
A state memorial service will be held at the 100,000-seater Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 30.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he will attend, and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and singer Ed Sheeran are expected to send video messages to be played on big screens.
Cricket legend Warne died suddenly at the age of 52
A funeral program at the private memorial service on March 20
Family and friends embers comfort one another at the emotional service
A hearse carrying the coffin of the Australian cricket superstar leaves the memorial service
The hearse during its lap of the ground
A mourner observes tributes to Warne at his statue outside the MCG in Melbourne
Liz Hurley said she was heartbroken to miss her ex Warne’s funeral
