Shane Warne's bronze statue unveiled outside hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground

Shane Warne was immortalised in bronze Thursday with a new statue of the legendary Australian cricketer being unveiled outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His bronzed sculpture is the first to be commissioned by the Melbourne Cricket Club as part of the Australia Post Avenue of Legends series, which will see a minimum of five statues placed in Yarra Park during the next five years.

Today’s ceremonial unveiling of Warne’s statue at the MCG has raised eyebrows, and not because the likeness reflects the bulkier Warne of five years ago.

“That’s 300kg, so it’s pretty lifelike from when I played,” Warne joked after the unveiling.

Shane Warne poses next to his new statue outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

“Congratulations to Louis for making a very good likeness that I am proud of,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying.

Taking a closer look at the statue’s grip in the ball, Warne said: “It looks like a leg-break.”

Warne's fiance Elizabeth Hurley, his children Brooke, Summer and Jackson, her son Damian and his former captain Mark Taylor were among the hundred-odd people present at the unveiling.

Almost five years to the day after Warne claimed his 700th Test wicket, the legendary spinner was there to see the marvellous creative work of sculptor Louis Lauman.

The 2.5-metre statue recreates his classic action in his heydays.

Warne joins cricket greats Sir Donald Bradman, Keith Miller and Dennis Lillee in having his statue erected on the Parade of Champions outside the hallowed ground, the Australian media reported