MELBOURNE, 26 December 2022: Day one of the NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa today at the MCG saw Australian cricket legend Shane Warne being honoured with Cricket fans wearing floppy hats, to pay homage to a look that Warne often donned on the field.
Shane had a special affinity to the MCG Boxing Day Test having grown up in Melbourne as a fan watching his heroes, before making his own indelible mark as a player on the hallowed turf with many memorable achievements including his Test hat-trick and 700th Test wicket.
Special tributes to Warne’s incredible achievements and his impact on cricket throughout the world on Day 1 included:
The Australian and South African teams paying their respects to Warne at the national anthem ceremony, and also wearing a floppy hat at the ceremony;
The ceremony acknowledged the significance of the MCG in his career and life, with Warne’s floppy hat and a ball featured on a plinth on the teams’ path to the ceremony;
Warne’s Test cap number 350 was painted square of the wicket for the duration of the Test match;
At 3.50pm on Boxing Day a graphic of Warne was displayed on the big screen; and a special highlights package paying tribute to Warne’s outstanding career played across the MCG’s screens and on broadcast.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockey said, “Shane is an icon to cricket fans globally for the greatness of his cricketing achievements, his charisma and his infectious enthusiasm for the game. His place as a legend of Australian and world sport is assured. Whilst we continue to mourn his passing, it is fitting that we honour Shane at his beloved Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Shane became recognisable not only through his genius and mastery of the art of leg spin, but also his floppy hat and zinc, so we encourage fans to remember Shane by wearing their own floppy hat and zinc to Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test.
I know I speak for the whole cricket community in saying that our thoughts continue to be with Shane’s family and friends and particularly his children Brooke, Jackson and Summer.”
Men’s Test Player of the Year Award renamed to honour Shane Warne
Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) today announced the Men’s Test Player of the Year will be renamed the Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year at the Australian Cricket Awards on January 30.
Warne played 145 Test matches in a career that spanned from 1992 to 2007 and is Australia’s all-time leading wicket-taker in the five-day format. The announcement was made at the NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test Match as fans paid tribute to the ‘Spin King’ at his beloved MCG.
The Australian Cricket Awards are held on an annual basis to celebrate the performances of Australian players across national and domestic cricket and is headlined by the Allan Border Medal and the Belinda Clark Award.
