On Wednesday, 30 March, the world will farewell Shane Warne, with live coverage of the State Memorial Service at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The service will last for around two hours with a crowd of over 50,000 expected to attend.
The service begins 7pm AEDT in QLD, NSW, and VIC, 6:30pm in SA, 5:30pm in NT, and 4pm in WA.
The service will be available to watch on Channel Seven, 9Gem (Nine main channel in Victoria), 10 (10 Bold in Western Australia), and ABC News, as well as Fox Sports on Foxtel and Kayo.
Fellow cricket legends Brian Lara, Wasim Akram, and Nasser Hussain will be in attendance. Celebrities including Hugh Jackman, Kylie Minogue and Russell Crowe are also expected to attend. The service will be hosted by Eddie McGuire.
“We started with a blank sheet of paper and it filled so quickly because the world wanted to come and pay tribute to Shane Warne,” McGuire said.
“He was a local boy who made good and gave to everybody everything that he had.
“It’s going to be a wonderful show, it’s going to be fitting for what we’re trying to achieve.”
Elton John, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Robbie Williams, and Ed Sheeran will also perform songs for Warne. Due to restrictions, these will likely be performed remotely.
Seven’s managing director Melbourne and network head of sport, Lewis Martin said: “Warnie was in so many ways just like all of us, the only difference was that he was one of the greatest cricketers of all time. We are proud to broadcast this service commercial-free to all Australians as we pay tribute to an incredible life and legend who gave so much to his sport and his country.”
Warne was mourned across the country and the world when the news of his passing was announced. After the news broke, Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley said: “He was The King, Warnie. He could teach you more about cricket in a half-hour commentary stint than any coach could teach you in a lifetime. He was a wonderful mate. A beautiful person. A scallywag. We loved him and he loved us. We will miss Shane every day.”
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Shane Warne Memorial. 7.00pm Wednesday, 30 March