Dozens of memorabilia pieces from late cricket great Shane Warne’s personal collection will soon be showcased to the public in an exhibition at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Warne: Treasures of a Legend will launch on December 16 at the Australian Sports Museum, featuring 48 career memorabilia pieces including Warne’s iconic floppy white hat, the famous Gatting Ball and worn Test Match shirts and boots.
Getting a first look at the exhibition, Warnie’s son Jackson said the Spin King chose to put most of his most-cherished personal items in storage over the years.
The exhibition will be showcased to the public at the Australian Sports Museum from December 16. (Nine)Son Jackson Warne said bringing his dad’s treasured collection to the MCG was a “fairytale”. (Nine)
“He would occasionally show it for a poker night or if he was selling the house, but we always used to ask ‘why didn’t you display it?’ and he’d always just used to say, ‘they know what I did’, and I think that’s just shows how humble he was,” Jackson said.
“But to now to be able to finally share everything that we’ve all wanted to share with everybody to be here at the MCG is like a fairy tale.
“Shane was very particular, any time he had something of interest, it’d be wicket, bat, ball, whatever it might be, it was stored away, noted, and llocked away safely.”
Warnie’s 700th test wicket and his unforgettable dancing stump will also be on display at the exhibition, which runs until August 9 next year.
Warnie’s white floppy hat is among the memorabilia on display. (Nine)
But one item that couldn’t be included was the ball from Warnie’s iconic hattrick against England in 1994.
The whereabouts of the priceless piece of cricket history has left even Warnie’s closest circle stumped.
“If you know where it is, please let us know. We’ve been looking for it,” Jackson said.
The cricket legend’s dad Keith said his son would be “honoured” to know his treasured sporting keepsakes would be showcased at the MCG.
“He absolutely loves the place, as we all know, it was his playground, you might say, and he’d be very pleased to know that it’s gonna be displayed at the MCG,” Keith said.
Bookings to see the exhibition are essential and can be made through the Australian Sports Museum website.
