Cricket: MCG statue to honour Warne

Four years after his last Test at the MCG, cricket legend Shane Warne will be the latest sports star to be honoured with a statue at the ground.

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) have announced it will be the first in a new series of statues outside the famous sporting venue.

There are already 10 statues erected around the ground, honouring famous figures such as Sir Donald Bradman, Ron Barassi and Betty Cuthbert.

The MCC have decided they will now start an avenue of legends, running along the path from their members' entrance to Wellington Pde.

Warne's statue is expected to be unveiled near the end of next year.

Warne, a Melbourne native, enjoyed some of the greatest moments of his cricketing career at the MCG, including his only Test hat-trick.

"Shane's playing record is unparalleled and he will sit comfortably alongside the 10 sporting greats already outside the MCG," said MCC president David Meiklejohn.

The avenue of legends project will involve a minimum of one statue per year for the next five years.

- AAP