Shane Warne: Private funeral held for Australian cricket great in Melbourne

Legendary leg spinner died two weeks ago in Thailand at the age of 52

Family and friends follow the hearse carrying Shane Warne's coffin for a lap of the ground following a funeral service in Melbourne, Australia. AP

A funeral program is held after a private memorial service for Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne in Melbourne. AFP

Family and friends follow the hearse carrying Shane Warne's coffin for a lap of the ground following a funeral service in Melbourne. AP

Former wife of Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne, Simone Callahan (C) and fellow mourners toast the hearse carrying Warne on a lap of the ground after a private memorial service at the St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne. AFP

The family of Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne follows the hearse on a lap of the ground after a private memorial service at the St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne. AFP

Former Australia cricketers Mark Waugh (L) and Mark Taylor (R) arrive for a private memorial service for Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne in Melbourne. AFP

Former Australia cricketer Glenn McGrath arrives for a private memorial service for Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne in Melbourne. AFP

Former Australia cricketer Andrew Symonds (L) and former England cricketer Michael Vaughan (R) arrive for a private memorial service for Shane Warne in Melbourne. AFP

Former Australia cricketers Michael Clarke (L), Ian Healy (C) and Merv Hughes (R) chat as they arrive for a private memorial service for Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne in Melbourne. AFP

Former Australia cricketer Merv Hughes arrives for a private memorial service for Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne in Melbourne. AFP

A hearse carrying the coffin of Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne leaves a private memorial service for Warne in Melbourne. AFP

Close friend Aaron Hamill, arrives at a private memorial for Shane Warne at the St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne. EPA

Jackson Warne hugs his grandfather Keith Warne as they attend the funeral service for former Australian cricket player Shane Warne at St Kilda Football Club on March 20, 2022 in Melbourne. Getty Images

Family and friends follow the hearse on a lap of the grounds during the funeral service for former Australian cricket player Shane Warne at St Kilda Football Club. Getty Images

Family and friends attend the funeral service for former Australian cricket player Shane Warne at St Kilda Football Club. Getty Images

Family, friends, sportspeople and entertainers bid farewell to Australian cricket legend Shane Warne at a private funeral held at his hometown in Melbourne on Sunday.

Warne, one of the finest bowlers of all time whose talent and personality transcended cricket, died about two weeks ago at the age of 52 while on holiday on the Thai resort island of Koh Samui. Thai authorities said a post-mortem examination showed his death was from natural causes and Warne's family later accepted the findings.

About 80 people attended the service including retired Australia Test captains Mark Taylor, Allan Border and Michael Clarke, while former England skipper Michael Vaughan was also present. Warne's long-time teammates Mark Waugh and Ian Healy were also in attendance, along with bowling greats Merv Hughes and Glenn McGrath.

Guests were asked to wear St Kilda scarves and a pair of them were draped across Warne's coffin as it was driven around the oval of St Kilda Football Club to popular songs including the 1970s Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes hit 'The Time of My Life', the Australian Associated Press reported.

"To Warnie," Warne's close friend Eddie McGuire declared in his speech, according to AAP. "He was simply the best."

Warne was one of the most famous and influential Australian cricketers in history, and is widely credited with revitalising the art of leg spin bowling after an era dominated by fast bowlers.

He was the first player to take 700 wickets and also became the first player in over 90 years to take a hat-trick in the Ashes when he achieved the feat against England at Melbourne in 1994.

A state memorial service will be held at the 100,000-seater Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 30.