'Chills': Incredible detail in brother's 30-year-old Shane Warne letter

A letter from Shane Warne's brother Jason that was read out the cricket great's memorial service on Wednesday night at the MCG has left viewers in disbelief.

The cricket legend, who died in Thailand of a suspected heart attack on March 4 at the age of 52, was remembered during Wednesday night's farewell as a loveable larrikin and devoted dad.

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His father Keith Warne led tributes and described his son's death as the "darkest day in our family's life".

Warne's children, Jackson, Summer and Brooke, unveiled the renamed Great Southern Stand as the Shane Warne Stand after each giving emotional speeches.

Brother Jason, who was also one of Shane's closest friends, spoke of his devastation at the family's loss in a moving tribute to the late cricket great.

"We wanted the best for each other, which is highlighted in a letter I sent Shane after his breakthrough Test here (at the MCG) in 1992 against the West Indies. Dad happened to keep that letter," Jason told the crowd.

The letter was read out by master of ceremonies Eddie McGuire during the service, and it referenced Australia's 1992 Test series against the West Indies and the confirmation that Shane Warne was the newest and biggest star in Australian cricket.

The legendary leg-spinner had been named man-of-the-match in the Boxing Day Test after taking the extraordinary figures of 7/52 in the second innings.

Not content with his brother's undoubted standing as a superstar in Australian cricket, Jason's letter showed how he helped push Shane to become the greatest ever.

The hand-written note started off with: “Shane, so I hear you’re in love. Tell me about Simone.

“Congratulations on taking seven against the Windies in Melbourne. Me and Finn were going wild telling everyone you were my brother. Can’t tell you how proud of you I was when I first saw the teletext. Well done, keep it up.

“Loads of hard work at the nets could set you up for the rest of your life. Don’t let the chance slip by enjoying the limelight and resting on your laurels.

“That comes in 10 years time when you have re-written all the record books. Now is the time to put everything, and I mean everything, into it and make it work for you.

“So, come on, make some more sacrifices and give people the opportunity in 20 years’ time to say remember Shane Warne. We’ll never get another leggie like him. He was the best spinner Australia has ever had.”

Little did Jason know how prophetic his words would be three decades later.

While there were some sacrifices that Warne refused to make - such as cigarettes and junk food - none could argue with his impact on the game of cricket and the legacy he left.

Not only did Warne re-write the record books to become Australia's greatest Test bowler of all time, he also lived up to other great challenge laid down by his brother all those years ago.

As the mountain of tributes to Warne will attest, Australia will "never get another leggie like him" and he will be remembered as the best spinner the country has ever had.

Unsurprisingly, cricket fans were blown away by the significance of his brother Jason's letter.

World pays its final respects to Shane Warne

As well as the moving tributes to Warne, his wildlife conservation work with the United Nations was also revealed, with the intergovernmental body announcing a set of new grants to be named in the late great's honour.

Musician Elton John followed a minute's silence with a pre-recorded version of Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.

"It's a sad day today but it's not in some ways because his legacy lives on," the singer said.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin sang a remote rendition of Yellow, while fellow singer Robbie Williams also performed a stirring in-studio version of Angels.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman added his voice to the chorus of a virtual tributes, saying Warne made the most of every second in his 52 years.

"Man, he sucked the marrow out of life. There was no one like you, Warnie, and never will be again," he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese were in attendance, while Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews could not attend after contracting COVID-19.

Friend and former St Kilda footballer Aaron Hamill gave an insight into Warne's larrikin nature, when the cricketer served as his best man and leaned in for a hug just before the nuptials.

"He said 'mate, it's not too late' and, Shane being Shane, he pulled out two passports. He managed to get his hands on my passport as a bit of a gag," Hamill said.

Others at the MCG, the site of Warne's hat-trick in 1994 and 700th Test wicket in 2006, included former Australian captain Allan Border, ex-English skipper Nasser Hussain and West Indian great Brian Lara.

with AAP

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