AUS v SA 2022-23: Cricket Australia to honour Shane Warne during Boxing Day Test at MCG

Shane Warne died of a suspected heart attack on March 4, 2022 at the age of 53.

By Salman Anjum - 19 Dec, 2022

The second Test between Australia and South Africa at MCG will see both teams paying tributes to spin legend Shane Warne, who passed away earlier this year.

Australian and South African players will sport floppy hats during the national anthems to honour Warne, who claimed his 700th Test wicket at the iconic ground.

The Boxing Day Test at MCG will be the first at Warne's home ground since his sudden demise in March.

Cricket Australia (CA) has planned a range of tributes during the second Test, including a pre-match ceremony that will highlight MCG’s significance in Shane Warne's life and career.

Warne’s floppy hat and a ball will stand at the entrance to the field for players to file past on their way out for the pre-match anthems.

His Test cap number 350 will be painted on the MCG turf square of the wicket for the game, cricket.com.au reported.

At 3:50pm on Boxing Day, a graphic of Warne will be displayed on the MCG screens while highlights packages of the famous Victorian will roll out across the match.

Moreover, fans attending the Test match have been asked to wear a floppy hat and don Warne's trademark zinc cream.

Widely regarded as the greatest spinners of all time, Shane Warne died of a suspected heart attack on March 4, 2022 at the age of 53. He was found unresponsive in his villa in Thailand and couldn’t be revived despite the best efforts of medical staff.

Shane Warne played 145 Tests and 194 ODIs between 1992 and 2007 and claimed a total of 1001 wickets during his illustrious career. He played a key role in Australia’s 1999 World Cup triumph.

(With PTI inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 19 Dec, 2022

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