Shane Warne’s cigarette party trick resurfaces before state funeral

Rare footage of Shane Warne performing his famous ‘ciggie flip’ party trick has resurfaced ahead of his state funeral in Melbourne.

The cricket legend, who died of natural causes in Thailand on March 4 at the age of 52, will receive a huge send-off at his beloved MCG on Wednesday night.

In the lead-up to the televised memorial, Shane’s mate Michael Vaughan posted a video on Instagram of the leg spinner entertaining a group of friends at a party by balancing a cigarette on his nose then tipping his head and catching it in his mouth.

After two unsuccessful attempts at the well-practised party trick, Warne grabbed the ciggie between his lips and stood up to celebrate as the table cheered.

Vaughan, England’s Test captain from 2003 to 2008, captioned the video: ‘AUSTRALIA please give the King the send-off he deserves tomorrow…’

‘Emotional it will be but I am sure he would want you all to remember all the great times,’ he added, alongside the hashtag #RIPKing.

Rivals to friends: In the lead-up to the televised memorial, Shane’s mate Michael Vaughan (pictured) posted a video on Instagram of the leg spinner entertaining a group of friends at a party by balancing a cigarette on his nose then tipping his head and catching it in his mouth 

Fun loving: After two unsuccessful attempts at the well-practised party trick, Warne grabbed the ciggie between his lips and stood up to celebrate as the table cheered

He did it! Warne looked jubilant after pulling off the party trick 

Despite being fierce rivals on the field, Vaughan and Warne were great pals.

The Englishman previously said Warne’s many friends in Britain were devastated by his sudden death.

He told Fox Cricket on March 5: ‘Here in the UK he’s got so many really close friends. I spoke to a lot of them yesterday. They’re gutted.’

‘He’s going to be hugely missed over here,’ Vaughan added, breaking down in tears. 

Warne’s state funeral at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday evening will see more than 50,000 attendees bid farewell to the sporting legend.  

The event will feature an ‘unprecedented’ star-studded line-up, with Warne’s friend Eddie McGuire saying on Tuesday: ‘It’s building into something quite spectacular.

Bond: Despite being rivals on the field, Vaughan and Warne were great pals. England’s former Test captain previously said Warne’s many friends in Britain were devastated by his death

‘The stage has been set on the MCG now. This is going to be one of the great events in the history of the city and this country in many ways.’ 

The big names coming to the ceremony include Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Allan Border, Eric Bana, Greg Norman, Michael Clarke, Sam Newman, Sachin Tendulkar, Andy Lee, Ray Martin, Mark Taylor, Stephen Fleming, Ian Botham, Aaron Hamill, Glenn McGrath and Kelly Slater.

International artists Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Chris Martin, Robbie Williams will perform alongside local musicians Anthony Callea and Jon Stevens.

Warne died of a heart attack at his luxury villa on the island Koh Samui, Thailand, on Friday, March 4. He was 52.

Memorial: The cricket legend, who died of natural causes in Thailand on March 4 at age 52, will receive a huge send-off at his beloved MCG on Wednesday night. (Pictured in August 2005)