Ultimate farewell to cricket legend

It was the final standing ovation for a cricketing star as 15,000 fans and friends said farewell to maverick batsman David Hookes.

Sporting legends mingled with celebrities including Russell Crowe at the Adelaide Oval funeral service to pay their respects to Hookes, who died last week following an assault outside a hotel.

Former Australia batsman Hookes, 48, is best remembered for hitting England captain Tony Greig for five successive fours on his debut at the 1977 Centenary Test in Melbourne.

At the funeral, shown live on Australian television, three stumps were placed at one end of the pitch where Hookes scored 20 centuries. Against them were rested a bat and a red cap from his home state South Australia's team.

Australia international batsman Darren Lehmann placed one of Hookes' bats on the coffin before mourners gave him a final standing ovation.

Greig also attended the funeral, along with former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, former Australia captains Richie Benaud, Mark Taylor and Ian Chappell, and suspended leg spinner Shane Warne. The current Australia team, gave Hookes a guard of honour as the hearse left the ground.