Mark Taylor opens up on ‘poignant’ moment at Shane Warne’s private funeral

Former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor has revealed the ‘poignant’ moment he experienced at Shane Warne’s private funeral.

Speaking ahead of Warne’s state funeral at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday night, Taylor said the cricket legend was a man of the people. 

‘Listening to the family say their goodbyes, it was as emotional as I’ve been for a long time, seeing Warnie’s coffin and the realisation that we are not going to see or hear from him again,’ he said.

‘In a way I’m glad to have been there to say goodbye to him, so for me the (state) funeral is more a celebration of his life.’

Warne died from a heart attack in Thailand on March 4 aged just 52, with the news shocking millions of cricket fans globally as well as rock stars and fellow players.

It is fitting the state funeral will be staged at the MCG, the scene of Warne’s many great triumphs with ball in hand.

Former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor (pictured right) has revealed the ‘poignant’ moment he experienced at Shane Warne’s private funeral

The ex-Australian teammates were close friends away from cricket, with Taylor stating the spin king was a person ‘everyone could relate to’ (pictured together, in Channel 9 commentary)

Be it the hat-trick against England in 1994 or his 700th Test wicket in 2006, Warne made the MCG his very own sporting theatre.

More than 50,000 people will be on hand to pay their respects to the spin king, with the Great Southern Stand likely to be formally renamed the Shane Warne Stand in his honour. 

Taylor said Warne’s ability to rub shoulders with global superstars such as Elton John, Ed Sheeran and Chris Martin as well as ‘the bloke down the road’ was an endearing quality.      

‘People resonate with him, he was the guy everyone could relate to,’ he told Wide World of Sports.

‘He was a guy who loved his sport and loved a good time.’  

Taylor and Warne also worked together in commentary for Channel 9 – and the retired opening batsman said it was never dull.

Never afraid to voice his opinion, Warne also respectfully listened to the views of others – even if he disagreed.

Warne’s state funeral is live on 9Gem from 7pm, with Fox Sports also screening the event.

Media identity and Warne’s close friend Eddie McGuire is the MC, with a number of Aussie celebrities confirmed attendees, including Hugh Jackman, Kylie Minogue and Russell Crowe.