MCG the traditional home of Australian Sports

Premasara Epasinghe

Freederick Armand, Powlett, Robert Russel, George B. Smyth, brother Andrew Miller Munday and Charles Fitzherbert Mundy, formed a Cricket Club on November 15 - 1838, known as Melbourne Cricket Club in the vicinity of Melbourne, capital of Victoria, Australia. Today, it is one of largest and marvellous cricket grounds which has tradition and history.

The MCG is undoubtedly the traditional home of Australian sports. Presently, it boasts, the finest facilities in the world, after the recent redevelopment of the northern side of the stadium. The majestic ground and pavilion is breath taking and one of the most fantastic beautiful sights that is seen.

If you trace the proud history of this marvellous ground - MCG - it has seen it all Olympic, Commonwealth Games, Test & ODI Cricket Internationals, Soccer, Rugby, Australian rules Footballs Incomparable Grand final.

When you compare the two grounds MCG is huge and enormous. Lords can hold about 25,000 - 30,000 spectators, where as the massive MCG with four levels can accommodate 100,000 spectators. From the pavilion, you can see below the lush green ground like a billiard table. The length and breadth of the ground is approximately 167 m and 149 m respectively.

On one side of the pavilion, you have the practice Indoor-Nets. It is named after the legendary Australian Cricketer Bill Lawry the Victorian cricketer. Outside the ground closer to the Indoor-nets, there is the wind wein, names after one of the greatest all rounders the cricketing world has seen Kieth Miller.

The most colourful sporting event that took place in Melbourne Cricket Ground was the Olympic Games held in 1956. It was declared opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The colourful and majestic photographs and paintings hung on the walls of the MCG pavilion unfold tale of this great ground, which is 163 years old. It speaks volumes about its proud history.

Lords cricket ground is acknowledged as both "Cathedral" and "Head-quarters of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)" and World Cricket. In Australia the vast MCG is the largest and oldest in the land. Established on the original Richmond Police Paddock.

The first cricket match played on the ground took place in November 1854 and the earliest first class match ever played outside the United Kingdom was that between Victoria and New South Wales played here in 1856. The ground is controlled by the Melbourne Cricket Club, which played the leading part in establishing big time cricket in Australia in the 19th Century.

In the 2nd floor, there is a big photograph of great Victorian and Australian cricketer W. H. Ponsford (1900-1930) Few lines below this photograph pays a glowing tribute to this great Aussie cricketer. It goes like this:- "He was the only one who could play in Bradman company and Make it a Duet".

Ponsford was a prodigious run-maker. He was the first player to make two scores of 400 or more in first class cricket. Played 29 Tests from 1924 to 1934 to amass 2122 runs at an average of 48.22. An MCG specialist "Ponny" averaged a remarkable 86.28 for his State and scored 13,815 runs for Australia, Victoria at an average of 65.18. He was an inaugural inductee into Australian Cricket Hall of Fames in 1996.

The Bill Ponsford statue was the worth of sculptor Local Lauren and it stands near gate I entrance to the MCG. The Dennis Lilee statue is near the gate of the entrance.

In the cherished history of MCG 1977, was a land mark. The centenary Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground celebrated the first 100 years of Anglo-Australian Test cricket. All former players from previous encounters were invited for this grand event. It was a great re-union of all the great players of England and Australia.

In Level 2, of the Pavilion wall there inscribed the great feats of 4 cricketers, who created records at the MCG. Mailey-9-121, Safraz Nawaz 9-86, Bob Cowper 307, Vivian Richards 208.

The Tapestry, the Colourful painting which depicts the highlights of MCG Sports Disciplines of the past 150 years is something one who visits MCG should witness. Added to this painting the photographs of the Presidents and secretaries of MCG are hung on the walls. To complete this beautiful painting with the highlights of Olympic, Test Cricket Rugby, Soccer and Athletics are depicted. It took nearly six to seven months to complete this painting. It shows the artistic and aesthetic value of the Australian Artists.

MCC Museum provides an in-depth study of this historic ground. A unique and priceless item from Baer Collection is the sugar-bowl which is in display when you see as you enter. Then, one of the notable relics out of many that attracted me was the ball that was in play when Australia defeated the archrivals England on English soil for the first time. The story goes on to say that it was pocketed by Australian wicket-keeper Jack Blackham who offered the ball for auction to raise funds for the war effort in 1916.

In addition to this, there are many notable items, cricket gear used by the cricketing greats of Australia. This Museum motivates the young Australians to emulate their past cricketing heroes which is modeled in the lines of Lord Cricket museum in England. Ideally situated in the middle of Richmond Park within easy reach of the City of Melbourne, it has accommodated the largest number of spectators ever seen at cricket matches on any ground. The record for single days play is 90,900 on the Second Day of the Australian vs West Indies Test in February 1961.

The record for any match is 350,534 for six days of the Australia vs England Test January 1937, in this ground.

From level 4 of the pavilion, you can see the majestic Melbourne city. It provides a panoramic view. Euchre Tower with 92 stories, at a distance is the Second tallest apartment building in the world. I believe the tallest is in Gold Coast in Queens Land. Then, there is the Federation Square, close to Euchre Tower.

The MCG installed its first Electronic scoreboard in the early 1980's.