Stars of showbiz, sport and 50,000 fans to say goodbye to cricket legend Shane Warne

Stars of sport and showbiz - as well as more than 50,000 spectators - will pay tribute to cricket legend Shane Warne at his state memorial today, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Warne died aged 52 of a suspected heart attack on 4 March while in Koh Samui. The results of an autopsy revealed his death was due to natural causes.

The MCG is the scene of many of Warne's iconic bowling moments, including a hat-trick against England in 1994 and his 700th test wicket on Boxing Day in 2006.

Read more: Cricket world will be a little duller after death of leg-spin legend who lived life to the full

Musicians Elton John, Ed Sheeran, and Chris Martin will send video contributions and other guests at the star-studded affair will include Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, and Kylie Minogue.

They will be joined by politicians including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

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

'It's what he deserves' says son

"There is no better place in the world" to hold Warne's memorial and to "say goodbye" said his son, Jackson Warne.

"It's a great honour to have it at the MCG. He's done a lot of great things here. He's made a lot of Victorians, Melbournians and Australians really proud here."

"It's what he deserves," he added.

Warne's father, Keith Warne, said it was going to be an "amazing celebration" and a "massive night".

"Seventeen years of playing here..." he said.

"All these people who have been following for that period of time will get to see a really big send off. It's what he would have wanted, to make sure everyone who can be involved is involved."

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has travelled to Melbourne to pay his