Australia pay tribute to late Shane Warne naming men's Test player award after leg spinner

The governing body of Australian cricket on Monday renamed the Men’s Test Player of the Year award after Shane Warne. The legendary leg-spinner, who took 1001 international wickets across Test and ODI formats, passed away at the age of 52 in Match in Thailand. The announcement was made during the first Boxing Day Test match at Warne's home ground MCG since his death.

“As one of Australia’s all-time greats, it is fitting we acknowledge Shane’s extraordinary contribution to Test cricket by naming this award in his honour in perpetuity,” said Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley in a statement. “Whilst we continue to mourn his passing, it is fitting that we honour Shane at his beloved Boxing Day Test at the MCG.”

Hockley’s announcement came on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test match between Australia and South Africa at the MCG, where Warne took his 700th Test wicket and an Ashes hat-trick. Notably, in the wake of his death, the MCG's Great Southern Stand was renamed after Warne

The CA annual awards, headlined by the prestigious Allan Border Medal and the Belinda Clark women's award, will be held on January 30.