Cricket Australia rename Men's Test Player of the Year award after Shane Warne

The Shane Warne Stand at MCG [Source: Twitter]

Cricket Australia, in a massive move, have renamed their Men's Test Player of the Year award after the great Shane Keith Warne to honour the leg-spinner. 

The award will now be named Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year as announced by CA and the Australian Cricketers' Association during the first session of play between Australia and South Africa in the ongoing Boxing Day Test.

The CA awards are an annual affair held every year on January 30, where the Allan Border Medal and the Belinda Clark women's medal take centre stage. 

Warne, who passed away this year, played 145 Tests for Australia, picking up 708 wickets during his 15-year career. 

Ahead of the start of play on Day 1 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), tributes poured in across the stadium. 

The Australian cricket team wore their baggy green caps, while the South African side donned floppy white hats during the pre-match ceremony to pay homage to Warne. 

 CA chief Nick Hockley expressed his delight in naming the award after the legend. 

Here's what Hockley stated

"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,

"Shane was a proud advocate of test cricket and you only have to look around at all the fans who came out to the MCG in their floppy hats and zinc on Boxing Day to realise what a profound impact he had on the game." 

Australia lead the three-match Test series 1-0, and as of writing, South Africa are 144 for 5 at tea on Day  1. 

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