Fans are being encouraged to honour Warnie by wearing a floppy hat and zinc on Day 1 of the Test, a look Warne often donned on the field.
Dubbed the King of Spin, Shane Warne was a born and bred Victorian sporting legend who made the Boxing Day Test his own, highlighted by his MCG Ashes hat-trick in 1994 and taking his 700th wicket at the ground 12 years later.
The Test will provide an opportunity for fans to honour the legend who gave so much joy to cricket fans around the globe. Planned tributes to his achievements and impact on cricket on Day 1 will include:
- 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 will acknowledge 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 to be painted square of the wicket for the duration of the Test match
- At 3.50pm on Boxing Day a graphic of Warne will be displayed on the big screen
- A special highlights package paying tribute to Warne’s outstanding career will also play across the MCG’s screens and on broadcast.
The Boxing Day Test is a highlight in a bumper summer of cricket in Victoria that includes Big Bash fixtures at the MCG, Marvel, Junction Oval and GMHBA Stadium at Kardinia Park featuring the best of the BBL including Melbourne’s own Stars and Renegades.
Tickets for the Boxing Day Test are available via Ticketek.