AFL great details Shane Warne's hilarious Peaky Blinders obsession

Shane Warne's fondness for TV drama Peaky Blinders was well known, but his true obsession with the show drove him to comical lengths, former St Kilda captain Aaron Hamill says.

The Saints great was one of several close friends of Warne to be invited to share stories about the late former leg spinner's memorial on Wednesday night.

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Just one part of a remarkably well-recieved celebration of Warne's larrikin life, Hamill recounted the amusing response Warne got from the producers of the show.

Warne's appearance on Fox Sports' cricket coverage several years ago sporting a new cap, it prompted a wave of jokes on social media at his expense.

In typical fashion, Hamill said Warne was absolutely unfased by the ribbing, which he also copped heavily in person from friends.

“He was committed, but it is horrendous,” Hamill remarked about Warne's cap.

“His great brother Jason, we had a good chuckle about it. There is not too many that could get away with it, let’s be honest.

“At Fox he sort of rocked on in and thought he was pretty cool and donned it.

“But he didn’t stop there with it. He would ring and say, ‘Mate, I have got this great idea.’"

Always one to make the most of his celebrity and the connections that came with it, Hamill said Warne managed to track down the details of the producers of the show.

Having previously been courted to appear briefly on another show, Suits, Warne was hopeful there could be a bit part with his name on it.

Unfortunately, the show's committment to its 1920s and 30s setting came with a rude awakening for Warne - whose winning smile proved to be his undoing.

“He got the email of the producer and off he sent the email, ‘look I’d love to be part of your show. I’m a keen viewer.’" Hamill said.

“He did all that and he rang and said,’Mate I got the email back’. ‘I said can you read it out to me please because I’m intrigued.’

“It read, ‘Dear Shane thanks very much. We love your enthusiasm, but unfortunately porcelain veneers weren’t around in Birmingham in 1931. But we love your support so thanks very much.’

“But that’s what he was like. He was ambitious. He was driven and he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

Shane Warne remembered as cricket immortal

More than 50,000 people were at the MCG to farewell the Australian icon, who died suddenly aged 52 in Thailand on March 4.

Former Australian teammates and rivals paid tribute to Warne at Melbourne's famous stadium in a star-studded state memorial service on Wednesday.

Ex-England captain Hussain, who Warne tormented during his 145-Test career, was blown away by his feats on the field.

Warne finished his career in 2007 with 708 Test wickets and was named as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the 20th century alongside Don Bradman, Garfield Sobers, Jack Hobbs and Viv Richards.

"The greatest cricketer who has ever played the game," Hussain told Fox Sports before the service began.

"Unbelievable cricketer and bloke."

In a panel discussion in the middle of the MCG with former Australian stars Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Merv Hughes, and West Indies legend Brian Lara, Hussain told a story about Warne getting him out in a tri-series final in 1999.

"I sledged him for some apparent reason and I've said something 'like enjoy your last game as captain'," Hussain said during the service.

"I'll be surprised if you haven't got the footage of me running down the pitch, very next delivery after that slog sweep and getting stumped.

"It was a privilege to be on a cricket field with you - you were the greatest bowler I ever saw."

Border believed Warne's arrival on the international scene helped prolong his own career.

"It revitalised my captaincy towards the end of my time.

"I was lucky to have two years with Shane and I just thank him for that."

Lara called Warne the "greatest Australian that I know".

With AAP

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