Tributes were paid to the late Shane Warne in the first Test in England since the great Australian died earlier this year.
Warne, the greatest leg-spinner in Test history and a cricketing and cultural icon, died suddenly on March 4 of a heart attack while on holiday in Thailand, aged just 52.
Before play in the First Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on Thursday, Sky Sports, one of Warne’s main employers in retirement, renamed their commentary box in the Media Centre in Warne’s honour, with the help of his friend and former colleague Rob Key, now the managing director of England men’s cricket. Key described Warne as "just one of the greatest people ever”.
Sky paid tribute to Warne throughout their coverage, including broadcasting a message from his three children - Brooke, Jackson and Summer.
Shortly before lunch, after 23 overs, play was stopped with the players gathering by the pitch to join the crowd in 23 seconds of applause.
23 was Warne’s shirt number for Australia and in tournaments around the world. He wore it in honour of his sporting hero, St Kilda Aussie Rules player Dermott Brereton.
