SL vs AUS | SLC will be paying tribute to Shane Warne before the start of Galle Test

Sri Lankan cricket will be paying tribute to the late Australian spin wizard Shane Warne in the first against Australia, which gets underway on June 29 at the Galle International Stadium. Galle was the venue where Warne became the first bowler in Test cricket history to take 500 wickets, and it's only fitting that the Galle Test will be dedicated in Warne's memory.

Warne's family has been invited to join the ceremony that will precede the match. As per IANS, Sri Lanka's tourism minister Harin Fernando said that the CEO of Cricket Australia has confirmed the family's presence during the match.

When the 2004 Tsunami struck Sri Lanka, Warne had personally visited the affected areas and made generous donations. The spin wizard died at the age of 53 of a heart attack earlier this year while holidaying in Thailand. Warne was found unresponsive at the villa he was staying in on the Koh Samui island.

One of the greatest bowlers of all time, Warne claimed 708 Test wickets from 145 games and 293 wickets from 194 ODIs. In total, he picked up 1001 wickets in all formats combined, which is only second to Muttiah Muralitharan's tally of 1347 wickets.

Warne was the first bowler to breach the mark of 600 and 700 Test wickets. He still holds the record for most wickets in a calendar year (96 wickets from 15 matches at an average of 22.02 in 2005) and most wickets taken in the Ashes series (195 wickets from 36 Tests). He is also the first-ever IPL-winning captain (Rajasthan Royals in 2008).

Australia are currently in Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle. The second Test match will be played from July 8 to July 12 at the same venue.