Cricket star Warne to receive state funeral
Tributes pour in for Australian who died of a suspected heart attack aged 52
Thai authorities were yesterday preparing to conduct an autopsy on the body of Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne, who died of a suspected heart attack, before flying him home where he will receive a state funeral.
Police said there was no foul play suspected in the 52-year-old’s death after he was found unresponsive at a luxury villa on the Thai holiday island of Koh Samui on Friday.
The “King” of spin’s passing sparked a global outpouring of grief from prime ministers, rock stars, actors and fellow players, an acknowledgement that the Melbourne native transcended his sport.
Warne’s three children reacted yesterday to his death, with friend and manager James Erskine saying they were “in complete shock”.
“Jackson [Warne’s son] just said, ‘We expect him to walk in the door. This is like a bad dream’,” Erskine said.
Warne had Jackson, Summer and Brooke with Simone Callahan, to whom he was married for 10 years until they divorced in 2005.
The player – one of the greatest Test cricketers of all time – was found unresponsive in a Samujana resort villa after failing to meet friends. He was taken to the Thai International Hospital Samui at about 6pm, but his management said despite medical efforts “he could not be revived”.
Officers on the island said on Saturday that “no foul play was suspected” following an initial investigation and confirmed Warne’s body would be transported to Surat Thani on the Thai mainland for an autopsy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday led tributes to one of the country’s “greatest characters” and announced Warne would receive a full state funeral.
Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews said Warne’s family had accepted, and that the funeral would be “an opportunity for Victorians to pay tribute to his contribution to his sport, to our state and the country”.
Over the weekend, fans gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to lay flowers and some unusual offerings – among them cigarettes, beer and meat pies – to remember a unique talent.
Warne’s former fiancée, actress Elizabeth Hurley, said on Instagram the “sun has gone behind a cloud forever”, adding, “RIP my beloved Lionheart”.
India batting great Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: “Shocked, stunned & miserable … Will miss you Warnie. There was never a dull moment with you around.”
Pakistani Prime Minister and former cricket captain Imran Khan paid his respects to
“a bowling genius”, while former Australia teammate Adam Gilchrist said he was “numb”.
Virat Kohli, the former captain of India’s cricket team, said Warne had gone “far too early” and would “surely be missed”.
Tributes also came in beyond the sporting world from Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, singer Ed Sheeran, to actors Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman.
Credited with reviving the art of leg-spin, Warne was part of a dominant Australian Test team in the 1990s and 2000s and helped his country win the 1999 limited-overs World Cup.
Bursting onto the scene as a brash young player with a shock of blond hair, Warne became almost as well known for his colourful life away from cricket as he was for his exploits on the field.
Warne played 145 Tests over a 15-year career, taking 708 wickets, and was also a useful lower-order batsman.
He was a “hero” to the current generation of cricketers, said Australian captain Pat Cummins.