Shane Warne was honoured in a way befitting the legend at the Test he seemed to own and at the ground he called his second home.
The touching tributes for the champion leg-spinner at the Boxing Day Test — the first long-form cricket match at the hallowed MCG since Warne’s sudden death in March — began before the first ball was bowled and flowed all day.
From the announcement that the Australian men’s cricketer of the year award would be renamed in Warne’s honour.
To the gracious words of Aboriginal elder Aunty Joy in the acknowledgement of country (“this will always be his resting place here on Wurundjeri country”).
With the 64,000-strong MCG crowd — all white floppy hats and zinc cream — in a silent standstill in his memory before play.
The Australian and South African players donned the hats during the national anthems.
While a video montage of the “King” played on the screen.
The number 350 was emblazoned on the sacred turf, representing Warne’s Test playing number.
Then, at precisely 3.50pm, a break in play, a standing ovation and the chant of “Warnie”.
It was something Australia’s all-time leading wicket-taker and perhaps cricket’s greatest showman would have loved.
After his ball of the century to dismiss Mike Gatting, Warne’s most famous moment came in the 2006 Boxing Day Test, where he took his 700th Test wicket in his final match at the ground.
“It’s a beautiful moment,” Warne’s former teammate Adam Gilchrist said.
Warne’s former captain, Ricky Ponting, said the moving ceremony was the perfect way to honour his mate: “He made this place his stage, made this his own, he loved putting on a show for the members of the MCG.”
Ahead of the day Cricket Australia announced that the Australian men’s Test player of the year will be named after Shane Warne as cricket continues to honour the iconic leg-spinner.
Another of Warne’s former teammates, Matthew Hayden, paid a moving social media tribute.
“We’ve lost a couple of goodns (sic) this year,” he wrote.