Shane Warne: Victoria State government releases details of state funeral

Melbourne Cricket Ground to host state funeral on evening of March 30

Australian cricketer Shane Warne has died. He was 52. Getty Images

Shane Warne working as a TV pundit during a test match between Australia and Pakistan at The Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, in 2019. Getty Images

Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley before Shane Warne's Australia took on Michael Vaughan's England in a T20 match at Cirencester Cricket Club in 2013. Getty Images

Australia's Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne celebrate with the Ashes trophy in 2007. Action Images

Australian captain Steve Waugh and vice captain Shane Warne during a ticker-tape parade through Melbourne, in celebration of the Australian cricket team's victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Cricket World Cup Final. Getty Images

Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh and Shane Warne of Australia after victory over Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup Final at Lord's in London in 1999. Getty Images

Shane Warne celebrates a Pakistan wicket in the Cricket World Cup Final at Lord's in London in 1999. Getty Images

Shane Warne celebrates by dancing with a stump on the dressing room balcony after victory over England in the Fifth Ashes test match at Trent Bridge in 1997. Getty Images

Shane Warne bowls to Graham Thorpe of England during the third test at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1997. Getty Images

Shane Warne and Brian Lara of the West Indies in Australia in 1995. Getty Images

Shane Warne after recording a career best 8 for 71 in the first Ashes test against England at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in Woolloongabba, in 1994. Getty Images

Warne in action against Somerset in 1993. Getty Images

Shane Warne in 1990. Getty Images

The details of Shane Warne’s state funeral in Melbourne were announced on Tuesday as Australia prepares to say goodbye to a cricketer who “defined a generation”.

Warne died earlier this month at the age of 52 while on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand. A post-mortem examination determined he had died of natural causes.

A private funeral for family and friends was held in Melbourne last Sunday, with the state funeral to take place on March 30, which the Victoria State government revealed would be held at 7pm local time (12noon UAE time) at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“Mr Warne didn’t just inspire a cricketing generation – he defined it,” a statement on the Victoria State government website read.

“Born for the big occasion, he gave us irreplaceable MCG memories: the Ashes hat trick, his 700th wicket and calming Bay 13 in his trackies. Mr Warne’s performance on the pitch drew us to the game that he cared so deeply for.

“The State Memorial Service will be an opportunity for Victorians to pay tribute to Mr Warne’s contribution to his sport, to our state and the country.”

Members of the public will be able to attend the service and free tickets have been made available on the state government website. The service will also be live streamed on the Victoria State government website.

Warne's family will be collecting donations from the service for The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health.

Warne was one of the greatest and most influential cricketers in history. Credited with reviving the art of leg-spin bowling, he took 708 Test wickets in a career that spanned from 1992 to 2007.

Family and friends attend private funeral for Shane Warne