Shane Warne state funeral live: Ceremony stream, TV channel, news and updates from Australia great’s memorial

Shane Warne state funeral - LIVE

The world of sport bids goodbye to one of its true greats today as a memorial service is held in Australia to celebrate the life of cricket legend Shane Warne.

Well over 50,000 spectators are expected to gather at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to honour the iconic leg-spinner, who died suddenly at the age of just 52 earlier this month, while other services will be held simultaneously at cricket grounds across the country.

Warne was found dead while on holiday in Thailand having suffered a heart attack and the shocking news sent cricket into mourning.

Close family and friends have already held a private ceremony for Warne but Wednesday’s events give the wider public the chance to pay their respects.

The celebration is set to feature tributes from friends, celebrities, former team-mates and rivals both from Australia and around the world, as well as musical performances from the likes of Elton John, Ed Sheeran and Chris Martin.

You can follow all the latest updates and tributes from the event with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below...

Latest news

• Keith Warne leads tributes

• Cricket legends share Warne memories

• Shane Warne’s state funeral held in Melbourne

• Over 50,000 fans expected at MCG memorial

• How to watch the ceremony

11:27 , Malik Ouzia

An incredible finale as the new Shane Warne Stand is unveiled by Brooke, Summer and Jackson.

If you do get a chance, dig out their speeches in full. Incredibly moving stuff.

Here’s more of that incredible speech from Summer Warne...

11:12 , Malik Ouzia

11:00 , Malik Ouzia

Next up we will hear from Warne’s children, Summer, Brooke and Jackson.

Summer starts by telling of the last time she saw her father, two days before his death, and I suspect there is not a dry eye in the house.

“I really am going to miss you dad. It’s now been exactly 26 days since you went to heaven and I miss you more than anything in the world.

“I’d do anything to have just one more of your cuddles.”

10:58 , Malik Ouzia

A very emotional Michael Clarke, one of Warne’s closest friends, offers his tribute next.

“I don’t know if I can ever say goodbye, but I can say see you later.”

10:52 , Malik Ouzia

Back to the music next, with Ed Sheeran joining the celebration. He says Shane’s family have asked him to play Thinking Out Loud, Warne’s favourite Sheeran track.

10:44 , Malik Ouzia

More from cricketing royalty now, as Ian Botham, Glenn McGrath and Sachin Tendulkar offer their own tributes via video, before Warne’s brother, Jason, takes the stage at the MCG.

Here is Tendulkar’s message: “He was always extremely competitive and did everything possible to disturb opposition to dismiss them but when someone batted well he was always the first person to walk up and congratulate you. That is how our friendship and respect for each other developed.

“Warney my friend, I will miss you big time. You’ll continue to live in my heart.”

10:38 , Malik Ouzia

More music now, this time from Robbie Williams, again performing from afar with a stripped back version of Angels.

10:33 , Malik Ouzia

Warne was best man at the wedding of another AFL star Aaron Hammill, who shares an amusing tale...

“I remember one particular moment...he gave us a hug, and he whispered ‘Mate, it’s not too late.’ And Shane being Shane, he pulled out two passports!

“He managed to get his hands on my passport as a bit of a gag. But he was like that. He always had that, just that willingness and want to see people happy and he brightened up the mood.”

10:29 , Malik Ouzia

Warne’s getting a bit of stick here for his devotion to a Peaky Blinders-style flat cap in more recent years...

Newman just about sums it up...

10:26 , Malik Ouzia

“The United Nations are part of this! Holy mackerel! He’s actually infiltrated the UN and they’re here!”

10:22 , Malik Ouzia

Next up is another panel featuring four of Warne’s close friends, including his former Hampshire teammate Dimitri Mascarenhas and former AFL star Sam Newman.

10:20 , Malik Ouzia

The latest montage of celebrity tributes features Dannii Minogue and golfing great Greg Norman.

10:13 , Malik Ouzia

Here’s another man fortunate enough to captiain Warne, Australia’s Mark Taylor...

“A big thank you to Warnie on behalf of cricket. He made slow bowling fashionable again. He made it cool. And I think we who were lucky enough, and AB and I captained him in particular, really appreciate it because it made us better captains and better leaders.”

10:04 , Malik Ouzia

If you want some scale of the great man’s reach, a UN representative has just announced the launch of The Shane Warne Conservation Grant to help continue the spinner’s environmental work.

Next it’s more music from Chris Martin, this time performing a pre-recorded acoustic version of Yellow from the band’s tour in Central America.

10:01 , Malik Ouzia

Next up, a montage focusing on Warne’s charity work, which is accompanied by music from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

More from Nasser Hussain...

09:52 , Malik Ouzia

“I’d say, Shane, it was an absolute privilege to be with you on a cricket pitch. On behalf of everyone back in England, our Sky team, we love you and we miss you.”

Here’s Merv Hughes’ tribute...

09:45 , Malik Ouzia

“He was a very loyal friend. As good as he was on the cricket field, he was five times better off it. If he ever said he was going to do something, he did it.”

09:37 , Malik Ouzia

Time for our first cricketing panel of the evening. Mark Howard, who worked alongside Warne on Fox’s cricket broadcasts in recent years, in host, and introduces Brain Lara, Allan Border, Merv Hughes and Nasser Hussain.

They’re each asked for one word to describe Warne. “Genius,” says Border. Hussain goes for “entertainer”. Lara says, “King”.

09:35 , Malik Ouzia

More from Shane Warne’s career now, including a look back at his historic 700th Test wicket, which came on this very ground against England.

“The noise - I’d never heard anything like it.”

09:24 , Malik Ouzia

Next up is a montage of messages from celebrity friends and fans. Hugh Jackman and Kylie Minogue feature before we turn to a performance from Elton John in the US.

“I want to dedicate this song to Brooke, Jackson and Summer,” he says, before launching into a rendition of Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.

Keith Warne leads tributes

09:19 , Malik Ouzia

The first speaker of the evening is Warne’s father, Keith. He tells of ferrying his son back and forth to all manner of sports as a child and “marvelling at his hand-eye co-ordination”.

“He could always somehow make someone’s day that little bit better, even in dire moments.

“Mate, your mother and I cannot imagine life without you. Thank you for all you did for us, for being a loving and caring son.”

09:13 , Malik Ouzia

Time for our first montage of the evening, the story of Warne’s rise, narrated in part by the man himself.

That ball to Mike Gatting, of course, gets an airing.

“That changed my life, that ball. And it felt bloody, pretty good.”

09:11 , Malik Ouzia

Warne’s family are, of course, in attendance today and we’ll be hearing from them later on. Son Jackson was doing the rounds among the guests earlier on.

09:06 , Malik Ouzia

Eddie McGuire, a Australian TV personality and close friend of Warne, has masterminded much of today’s ceremony and is also playing the role of Master of Ceremonies.

He starts with a stroll down the wicket which has been laid out amidst the guests and introduces Greta Bradman, granddaughter of the great Don Bradman, to sing the national anthem.

08:59 , Malik Ouzia

The service proper is about to get underway in Melbourne and will begin with a minute’s silence.

Gilchrist: ‘You felt like every ball you were in the game’

08:57 , Malik Ouzia

Australia great Adam Gilchrist was one of the men lucky enough to watch Warne work his magic from the best seat in the house - behind the stumps.

“Maybe tonight puts a bit of a full-stop on the grieving and we can start to really enjoy everything Shane Warne gave to our lives,” the wicketkeeper says.

“He was such a pleasure to keep to because you felt like every ball you were in the game.”

08:49 , Malik Ouzia

Many of Australia’s current stars are away at the moment playing in that ODI series in Pakistan but some will be in attendance tonight.

Here’s Nathan Lyon - Australia’s third-highest wicket-take of all-time behind Warne and Glenn McGrath - arriving earlier.

Hussain: ‘Warne would love to have been remembered at MCG’

08:39 , Malik Ouzia

Former England captain Nasser Hussain, who of course worked closely with Warne on Sky Sports’ cricket broadcasts, will be speaking as part of the ceremony later on, but he’s also stopped by the Fox studio for a chat.

“Walking down from the hotel just now, you just can’t believe it really. It’s surreal,” he says.

“If there was anywhere he’d want to be remembered it would be here. Everything he did here meant so much to him.

On why England loved him - “It started with that Gatting delivery all those years ago, that ‘Wow!’ moment. Then he almost became a bit of a pantomime villain with all the songs and everything.

“They loved to hate him but they appreciated the way he reacted to that, the way he’d react to difficult situations. England fans and the nation in general love someone who, when the chips are down, will fight for their team and their country.

“He’s so much more than the stats of 708 Test wickets. He’s an entertainer. Any venue around the world, bars would empty when Shane Warne comes on to bowl.

“If you ever got runs against him - and it was very rare you got runs against him - he’d be the first man to put his hand out and say: ‘Well played, you were too good for us today’.”

Allan Border was Warne’s first Australia captain

08:33 , Malik Ouzia

“He was instantly likeable, that was a solid start,” he says.

“I just liked the way he went about his work and the character he brought to the team.

“There was a little bit of cockiness about him, this young, fresh face with the peroxide blond hair and the stud earring and the rest of it that went with it. Instantly there was something there.”

08:24 , Malik Ouzia

Australia one-day captain Aaron Finch has been speaking on Fox’s broadcast via video link from Lahore, where his side beat Pakistan in the First ODI overnight.

“Anyone who grew up in my era grew up a fan of Shane Warne, not only a fan but just mesmerised by him. He was someone who transcended the game, not just in Australia but worldwide

“I was incredibly lucky to be around him for a season in the IPL and then get to know him better in later life on a personal level.”

Australia women reach World Cup final

08:18 , Malik Ouzia

There has already been cause for celebration in Australian cricket today, with the women’s team reaching the World Cup final in New Zealand overnight thanks to a thumping victory over West Indies.

Alysa Healy scored a terrific 129 as Australia scored 305 for three of just 45 overs before skittling the Indies for 148 to clinch a 157-run victory.

They’ll play either England or South Africa in the final.

Warney would’ve been proud.

Stand to be named in Warne’s honour

08:06 , Malik Ouzia

We’re seeing our first shots from inside the MCG, which is pretty much empty at the moment but will be packed with fans over the next hour.

There’s also a black banner covering the name of what was the Great Southern Stand, which will be renamed the Shane Warne Stand during today’s ceremony.

07:49 , George Flood

A look at today’s order of service and more pictures from inside the MCG...

07:40 , George Flood

A wonderful tribute to Warne here, narrated by current Australia Test captain Pat Cummins...

07:34 , George Flood

Cricket balls, Aussie baked beans, a tub of vegemite, beers and caps are among the personal tributes left by adoring fans to Warne outside the MCG today, alongside the vast array of floral tributes and messages.

07:23 , George Flood

The MCG today will be full of those paying their respects to Warne, but the stumps have been left out on the wicket in a tribute to one of the greatest bowlers to ever grace the sport.

Huge MCG crowd expected to join tributes

07:20 , Malik Ouzia

Well over 50,000 fans had already secured a free ticket for today’s ceremony even before an additional batch of tickets were released last-minute on Tuesday as the venue capacity at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was finalised.

In addition, thousands of fans are set to gather at other cricket stadiums around the country, including at the SCG.

Cricket greats descend on Melbourne

07:15 , Malik Ouzia

News of Shane Warne’s passing stunned the sporting world earlier this month, the spinner found dead in a villa in Thailand having suffered a heart-attack at the age of just 52.

Renowned as one of the game’s great characters, across the course of his career Warne took 708 Test wickets, the second-most of all-time, and helped revive the art of leg-spin.

Today’s ceremony is set to feature tributes from some of the game’s greats, with the likes of Brian Lara, Wasim Akram and Sachin Tendulkar having flown out to Melbourne to join a host of Australian legends and former England captain Nasser Hussain among the biggest cricketing names paying their respects.

How to watch the ceremony

07:10 , Malik Ouzia

TV channel: In the UK, the ceremony will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can stream the ceremony live via the SkyGo app.

Good morning...

07:00 , Malik Ouzia

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of today’s state funeral being held in Australia in memory of cricketing great Shane Warne.

A star-studded event is planned to celebrate the life of one of the most talented and charismatic sportsmen the world has ever seen.