Shane Warne remembered at private funeral in Melbourne

Shane Warne’s family and friends have held a private funeral in Melbourne, with about 80 guests gathering to say their goodbyes to the cricketing great.

Warne’s three children, Jackson, Brooke and Summer, and parents Keith and Brigette, along with close friends including retired Test captains Mark Taylor, Allan Border and Michael Clarke and former England skipper Michael Vaughan, attended the service.

Bowling greats Merv Hughes and Glenn McGrath and long-time teammates Mark Waugh and Ian Healy were also there.

Close friend and television personality Eddie McGuire delivered the eulogy and was MC for the private event at St Kilda Football Club.

Guests were invited to wear St Kilda scarves and two scarves were draped across Warne’s coffin as it was driven around the oval to the sound of the 1970s Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes hit The Time of My Life.

The lap of honour was immediately followed by a champagne toast.

McGuire urged the mourners to be louder as he led three cheers.

“To Warnie,” he declared.

“He was simply the best.”

Tina Turner’s anthem, which made the popular accolade a household phrase, was then played to a round of applause.

Warne, 52, died of a suspected heart attack on the Thai resort island of Koh Samui on 4 March.

A state memorial will take place at the MCG on 30 March, where the wider public will be able to pay their respects.

The ground’s Great Southern Stand will also be renamed in Warne’s honour.

The cricketing legend’s death little more than two weeks ago led to an outpouring of grief from people around the world.

Glenn Lalor, a St Kilda Cricket Club coach, reflected on Saturday on his time playing with Warne in the early 2000s.

“Every time Shane was available he would love coming back and playing