The son of the late, great Shane Warne has thanked those who honoured his father with an emotional tribute at the Boxing Day Test.
Australia are hosting South Africa in their annual festive clash, and on the opening day fans piled into the MCG donning floppy hats and zinc, items that signified the famous leg spinner. The broadcast teams at Channel 7 and Fox Cricket also got involved, and fittingly, home skipper Pat Cummins opted to bowl after winning the toss.
A video tribute then appeared on the big screen, whilst the Coldplay song 'Yellow' reverberated around the ground. Warne was a close friend of the band's frontman Chris Martin.
It was the first Test played at Warne's home ground since his sudden death in March, and his son Jackson was one of the 65,000 in attendance on the opening day: "I thought I'd just come on here because I wanted to firstly say I hope everyone had a good Christmas, spending time with your close friends and family," he wrote on Instagram.
"I know for some people it was their first time without partners or loved ones which would have been tough. But I hope you found a way to try and smile and enjoy the sun in the company that you were with.
"I was actually at the game yesterday,' he added. "It was really really cool to see everyone in white and it was just cool talking to Gilly [Adam Gilchrist] as well - with my Fox Cricket interview - in front of the Shane Warne stand and the Shane Warne Boxing Day Test was very special."
Back in March at the same ground, Jackson paid an emotional tribute to his dad at his state funeral. And he finished his social media post with gratitude, adding: "So yeah, just want to come in here and say thank you and I hope everyone has a good week and enjoy the sun."
In another fitting tribute to Warne, Australia have been rampant over the first two days. After rolling the Proteas out for 189, they reached 386 for 3 by the close on Tuesday morning, with David Warner making an unbeaten 200.
The hosts are already 1-0 up after a dominant win in Brisbane. And victory in Melbourne would guarantee a series win ahead of the New Year's Test in Sydney on January 3.
