On the first day of the Boxing Day Test, a poignant moment unfolded as fans, players, and cricket legends united to honor the late Australian spin maestro, Shane Warne.

Warne’s legacy has cast a significant shadow over the inaugural Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) since his sudden passing in 2022.

The MCG, an arena where much of Warne’s extraordinary career unfolded, now pays homage to him with the Southern Stand bearing his name.

On Friday, Warne’s children, Brooke and Jackson, stood alongside Australian cricket icon Ricky Ponting and former England captain Michael Vaughan at the boundary line.

The four of them led the stadium in a moving tribute, removing their floppy white hats and bowing to the crowd—a gesture reminiscent of Warne’s farewell during his last Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the 2007 Ashes series.

Cricket greats and fans inside the MCG paid tribute to Shane Warne during the Boxing Day Test match by doffing their caps to the legendary Victoria spinner

Fans and players at the MCG will doff their caps to Warne (pictured) every day at 3:50pm during the Melbourne Test 

Cheers rang out around the stadium with the record 94,199 crowd inside the MCG chanting ‘Warnie, Warnie, Warnie’ as they doffed their hats.

The Shane Warne Legacy are also providing cricket fans attending the Boxing Day Test with a free health check.

Self-service health check stations have been installed around the MCG which are giving fans insights into key health metrics.

Cricket Australia reports that over 3,000 health checks had been conducted on day one of the Boxing Day Test match.

Warne took his first Test hat-trick and his 700th Test wicket in Boxing Day matches at the MCG against England.

His son Jackson fronted the media on Wednesday morning outside the ground, in front of the statue that honours the leg-spinning great.

‘I feel like every single day I’m in this whirlwind or tornado of Dad, everywhere I go, it’s just: “Dad, Dad, Dad”,’ Jackson said.

‘But when I come to events like Boxing Day… any activations for the Shane Warne Legacy, it just reminds me how many people love Dad – that’s why the numbers are so high.’

Ricky Ponting (left) and Michael Vaughan joined Warne’s children Jackson and Brook on the MCG pitch to pay tribute to Warne

Cricket greats Adam Gilchrist (left) and Michael Vaughan (right) doffed their caps to Warne alongisde  

It comes as an exhibition in the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG was opened in Warne’s honour by his son Jackson (pictured)

Warne was a proud Victorian and took a hat-trick and his 700th Test wicket at the iconic MCG

It comes as an exhibition in the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG was opened in Warne’s honour.

The Warne family have displayed many of the iconic spinner’s pieces of cricketing memorabilia over the years, including the bat he used to score his highest run tally (99) against New Zealand at the WACA in 2001.

‘So many people still feel that shock. It doesn’t really feel real, that it will be four years in March – it’s gone like ‘that’.

‘If we can just try and encourage as many people to look after their heart — a lot of people look after their brain and muscles and bones, but forget about the heart.’

Jackson also remembered the 1999 one-day game at the MCG when England captain Alec Stewart called on Warne to calm down unruly fans in Bay 13.

‘For that now to be the Barmy Army (in Bay 13), it’s going to be pretty cool. I do know they’re going to be singing a song for Dad as well,’ he said.

Shane Warne died on 4 March 2022 while staying at a private villa on the Thai island of Koh Samui.

He was 52 years old at the time of his death.

The Shane Warne Legacy foundation have installed free health check machines around the MCG and are encouraging fans to get screened during the Test match (Pictured: Jackson Warne) 

Members of the Barmy Army also paid tribute to the spin king, holding up banners and chanting Warne’s name

Warne tragically died in 2002 and his legacy has been taken up by his children, who are urging Australians to have regular heart health checks

Warne was found unresponsive in his room after friends became concerned when he failed to respond to calls, prompting staff to check on him.

Emergency services were contacted, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following an autopsy, Thai authorities confirmed the cause of death as natural causes, noting that Warne had a history of asthma and had reported chest discomfort in the days leading up to his death.

Warne played 145 Test matches for Australia between 1992 and 2007, finishing his career with 708 Test wickets, the most by any bowler at the time.

He was a leg-spin bowler and is widely regarded as one of the most influential cricketers in the history of the game.

Warne took 37 five-wicket hauls and 10 ten-wicket hauls in Tests, reshaping the role of spin bowling in modern cricket.

He made his Test debut against India in Sydney in 1992 and announced himself on the world stage during the 1993 Ashes tour of England.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground held special significance for Warne, where he played many of his most memorable matches.

Warne played 145 Test matches for Australia between 1992 and 2007 and is the second-highest wicket taker of all time

He took 319 Test wickets at the MCG, the most by any player at a single ground.

Warne often described the MCG as his favourite place to play and spoke publicly about the connection he felt with the venue.

Following his death in March 2022, Cricket Australia and the Melbourne Cricket Club moved to honour his legacy at the ground.

The Great Southern Stand at the MCG was officially renamed the Shane Warne Stand later in 2022.

The stand was formally unveiled during the Boxing Day Test on December 26, 2022, in front of a packed MCG crowd.

Learn more about the Shane Warne Legacy Health Checks here