Australian cricket legend Shane Warne is honored with a state funeral

Australia will hold a state funeral for Shane Warne.

The Warne family have accepted an offer of a public funeral for the cricket star, who died of a heart attack on Friday aged 52.

Australian MP Daniel Andrews, the Premier of Victoria, said on social media that the occasion was an opportunity for the country to honor the sporting superstar.

“I spoke to the Warne family again today and they accepted my offer of a state funeral to commemorate Shane,” Andrews wrote on Twitter.

“It will be an opportunity for the Victorians to recognize his contribution to his sport, our state and the country. Details will be finalized in the coming days.”

Tributes have been poured in from around the world following the shock death of one of the sport’s most charismatic and beloved personalities.

Fans have continued to pay floral tributes to the Shane Warne statue at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while the stadium’s Great Southern Stand is being renamed the SK Warne Stand in honor of the king of spin.

Warne rose to fame with the ‘ball of the century’ when he upset Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes series against England.

In a 15-year, 145-game career, he won 708 Test wickets, the second-highest haul in history.

The bullish spinner also amassed 293 one-day international wickets and helped Australia win the 1999 World Cup.