Melbourne: An eclectic array
of celebrities including singer Elton John, golfing legend Greg Norman and
champion surfer Kelly Slater paid tribute on Wednesday to their friend, former
Australian cricketer Shane Warne, at a star-studded state memorial service.
More than 50,000 mourners
chanted their hero's nickname "Warnie" at the outset of the service
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as they used to do when he took to the pitch
for a match.
It was his hometown pitch
where he cemented his sporting legend in 2006 by becoming the first bowler in
the world to take 700 Test wickets.
Warne's death at a Thai resort
of a suspected heart attack on March 4 at the age of 52 made headlines around
the world.
The pain was felt far beyond
the cricket world. Tributes came from the fields of music, acting, business,
golf, politics, surfing, comedy, poker and others.
Elton John dedicated a
rendition of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" to Warne's children -
Brooke, Summer and Jackson - who were among the crowd that included Australian
Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
John and fellow British
musicians Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin
appeared on a large screen via video. So too did Australian singers (and
sisters) Kylie and Dannii Minogue.
Martin played "Eulogy,"
a piano piece that he composed for the occasion. In another video, Martin
apologised for not attending the memorial in person. Sheeran described Warne as
"such a great bloke."
Australian-born former
champion golfer Greg Norman recalled Warne's passion, energy and enthusiasm for
life.
Some knew Warne as one of the
all-time great spin bowlers. Others knew him as the dapper one-time fiancé of
glamorous British film star and model Elizabeth Hurley.
"It seems too cruel that
all the people who loved him will never have another Lion hug," Hurley
posted on social media in a tribute to the former lover she called Lionheart
after his death.
She did not take part in
Wednesday's service.
Former English cricket team
captain Nasser Hussain and former West Indies team captain Brian Lara also
spoke at the service.
Warne's love life and
off-field indiscretions were often fodder for tabloid journalists.
But his determination to be
his authentic, flawed and irreverent self endeared him to his friends and fans
alike.
A statue of Warne outside the
cricket ground became a focus of public grief. Tributes left at the statue
included beer bottles and cigarette packets.
It was a nod to how Warne once described himself in words repeated at his service by his father, Keith Warne: "I smoked, I drank and I played a little cricket." (Agencies)
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