Tears, cheers and tributes: Shane Warne remembered as a giant who transcended cricket

Shane Warne – the starry-eyed boy of suburban Melbourne who became the king of spin – has been remembered as an irreplaceable cricket giant, a doting father and an Aussie larrikin at a star-studded memorial at his beloved Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The sombre memorial culminated with the re-naming of the MCG’s largest stand in his honour to immortalise his record-breaking career, causing the crowd of adoring fans to erupt into cheers and yells of “Warnie”.

The state funeral was attended by cricket legends, celebrities and political leaders, all paying tribute to one of the cricket’s most popular figures.

The twilight service featured video musical tributes and dedications by Warne’s celebrity friends Sir Elton John, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Robbie Williams and Ed Sheeran. There were also live performances by singers Jon Stevens and Anthony Callea.

The cricket great’s father, Keith Warne, commemorated his son as a doting father, a loving son and a caring brother, telling the crowd he was grateful the world loved Warne as much has he and mother Brigitte did. Warne’s death was the family’s “darkest day”.

Keith recounted a time Warne visited children in the Victorian town of Kinglake after the catastrophic 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, spending a day playing sports with families to lift their spirits.

“This was Shane. Leading with infectious energy, his giving and that beaming smile. He somehow could always managed to make someone’s day that little bit better,” Keith said.

“He was a person who made everybody feel very special.

“He was always about putting smiles on other people’s faces. Kids loved him, and he loved kids.”

Summer Warne – the cricket giant’s youngest child – told the crowd about the last time she saw her