Shane Warne: Sky Sports to pay tribute to Australian great during England's first Test against New Zealand at Lord's

Tributes will be paid to Shane Warne by former players and commentary colleagues; Sky Sports' main commentary box at Lord's to be renamed after leg-spin great; two-part documentary to be shown during first Test against New Zealand

During England's first Test vs New Zealand, Sky Sports viewers will be shown a two-part documentary entitled “Bowled Shane,” which tells the story of the ’05 and ‘06/07 Ashes series

Sky Sports will pay tribute to cricket legend Shane Warne throughout England's first Test against New Zealand at Lord's next week.

The spin-bowling great, who died in March 2022, will be remembered throughout the first Test by former players and the Sky Sports cricket team, with whom Warne spent a number of years working following his playing career.

During the first Test, Sky Sports viewers will be shown a two-part documentary entitled "Bowled Shane," which tells the story of the '05 and '06/07 Ashes series. Warne was the main character throughout both dramatic series, cementing his reputation as one of the game's greatest ever players.

In partnership with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Sky Sports will also be commemorating its former colleague by renaming the main commentary box in the J.P. Morgan Media Centre at Lord's after the former leg-spinner. The tribute will be unveiled on the morning of June 2 by another of Warne's former Sky Sports Cricket colleagues Rob Key, now Managing Director of England Men's Cricket.

Mark Taylor, the former Australian captain and Warne's close friend, will also join Sky Sports' coverage to discuss Warne's impact on the game alongside Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Mel Jones, Ian Ward, Simon Doull and Eoin Morgan.

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Finally, to celebrate the cricketing great whose playing number was 23, there will be a minute's applause on 23 overs.

Nasser Hussain remembers his great friend Warne, with Sky Sports to pay tribute to the cricket legend throughout England’s first Test against New Zealand

'Warne's magic will never be forgotten'

Sky Sports Director of Cricket Bryan Henderson said "On the pitch, he was simply the greatest, while off it, he was a wonderful and loyal friend. No words can capture his contribution to the game, but his magic on the field as well as in the commentary box and in life itself will never be forgotten.

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"We hope our tributes to him during this Test will remind those who witnessed him in action of his greatness as well as hopefully introduce young cricket fans to a cricketing legend."

A look back at the career of Shane Warne, who passed away at the age of 52 in March

Guy Lavender, MCC Chief Executive & Secretary, said: "Shane Warne was a man who entertained us on the field and was passionate about improving the sport off it.

"He was an Honorary Life Member of MCC and we were fortunate to benefit from this directly through his work on our World Cricket committee and also as our Head Coach of London Spirit men's team last summer.

"We are hugely supportive of Sky's commemoration of Shane which I am sure will be a fitting tribute to a true legend of the game".

Hussain: Warne was box office and such a friend

Sky Sports Cricket expert and former England captain Nasser Hussain said of Warne: "He was absolutely box office.

"It was a nightmare being at the other end from him as you knew he could make you look very silly. At the same time, it was a great thrill being at the other end to arguably the greatest cricketer that has ever played the game.

Image: Warne took 708 wickets in 145 Test matches

"He was such a friend to us all. We knew him well, we knew the real Shane Warne and he was such a lovely, lovely, bloke.

"He enjoyed the mickey taking and enjoyed being around people who didn't just see him as Shane Warne the superstar but the lad who had pizza and a bowl of fries at lunch. He never forgot his mates growing up, he loved them."

Hussain's fellow Sky Sports Cricket pundit Mark Butcher added: "I think it will be quite emotional [at Lord's]. It is still shocking to think that Shane won't be there doing his hair in the mirror!

"It is a real sad loss to the entire sport. He was larger than life and one of the greatest players I ever played against. We miss him greatly."

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