SYDNEY: Former Australian wicketkeeper and Warne's teammate Adam Gilchrist has revealed the content of a message sent to him by Australian legend Shane Warne hours before he died. Gilchrist said he would never delete this message he received eight hours before his death.

Warne's message was in praise of Gilchrist's note of condolence for Rod Marsh, another Australian legend who died the day before Warne's death. "He always called me 'Churchy' and it always felt like a term of endearment from a friend," Gilchrist said.

"He messaged me saying, 'Church, wonderful tribute to Rod Marsh'", Gilchrist told ABC News.

Today, Warne's body was flown to his hometown of Melbourne. The body was flown in by a chartered plane after an eight-hour journey from Thailand. Relatives say the Australian legend's body will be buried at a ceremony attended only by family and close friends. A memorial service will be held on March 30 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which will seat one lakh people.