‘Shane would be honoured’: Warne’s treasures to go on show in MCG exhibition

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On the day the 2025-26 Ashes series opened in Perth, it was fitting that Shane Warne wasn’t far from the thoughts of the cricketing world.

Warne was synonymous with the sport’s oldest and grandest series, a memory not lost on his father Keith, son Jackson and Melbourne Cricket Club chief Stuart Fox when on Friday they announced the MCG would host a special exhibition this summer of Warne’s private memorabilia.

Jason Warne holds “the Gatting ball” bowled by his Dad.

The exhibition will include the famous Gatting ball, the ball he claimed his 700th wicket with, and even a stump he held during a celebratory dance on the balcony at Trent Bridge in 1997.

“Yes, it’s pretty special, the first day of the Ashes in Perth … It’s a fairytale, I think everybody is going to be happy when they get to see this collection,” Jackson said.

Jackson with his dad’s famous white floppy hat.

Speaking at the MCG, a venue that Keith said his son had made his very own “playground”, the Warne family said it had been a no-brainer for the MCC to display from December 16 the treasures the champion leg-spinner had kept in storage.

While there had been interest overseas and from private collectors, Keith said the MCG was the right venue to showcase his son’s “treasures”.

“I know Shane would be honoured to know that his cricket memorabilia is being held at the MCG. He, absolutely, loved the place, as we all know. It was his playground you might say,” Keith said.

“It’s ended up where we know Shane had wanted it to be.”

Keith said his son had been meticulous in ensuring the items were clearly labelled, and in excellent condition. Jackson joked his father had been “the cleanest person of all time”.

Warne took 56 of his 708 Test wickets at the MCG, including an Ashes hat-trick in 1994-95, and his 700th wicket, in the Ashes Test of ’06-07.

The Australian one-day international shirt he wore in a game at the MCG in 1998-99 also has a special place. That day England captain Alec Stewart called Warne onto the field to help settle a restless Bay 13 crowd pelting food and drink at England seamer Darren Gough.

“Shane has arrived in his tracksuit and thongs with Mark Waugh’s helmet and managed to calm the crowd. I know that was one of Shane’s favourite interactions with the crowd. To even remember that, how special was it,” Keith said.

Warne’s dismissal of England batsman Mike Gatting on day two of the first Test against England at Manchester in 1993 is simply known as the ball of the century. It was Warne’s first delivery in an Ashes Test, a ripping leggie that pitched outside leg stump and spun sharply to beat Gatting’s defensive blade and rock his off stump.

Gatting stared at the pitch in disbelief, before beginning the slow walk off.

Shane Warne is given a standing ovation after claiming his 700th Test wicket at the MCG on Boxing Day, 2006.

Keith, who with his family was in the crowd that day, said he immediately knew the impact that delivery was going to have not just on his son, but for the cricketing world.

“To watch that ball again and again, just the ways it swerves and drifts and dips and goes across to the off-stump, just an amazing ball,” Keith said.

However, what has been lost - make that stolen - is the ball he claimed his hat-trick with in the ’94-95 Ashes Test at the MCG. The ball was stolen during a party at his house, and his manager James Erskine confirmed it had never been retrieved.

Warne’s death from a suspected heart attack while on holiday in Thailand in 2022 is still hard for many to fathom. Aged 52, he still had much to give the sport.

Warne - Treasures of a Legend runs until August 9 next year. Bookings are now open.

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