Legendary cricketers and Stands at the Sydney Cricket Ground

When the Final Test between Sri Lanka and Australia ended just after tea with a 5 wicket victory and the series 3-0 to Australia, I did a walk around the Sydney Cricket Ground soaking in the mystique of the statues, the folklore and the real stories of legendary cricketers who rewrote history on the hallowed ground.

The authorities did away with the hill that was steeped in history. It is said that the hill was where the barrackers would gather, gulp their beers and shout invectives at the cricketers and enjoy the action.

The first statue that greeted me was that of former Australian Captain and my idol Richie Benaud. Benaud ranks as one of the best and most aggressive cricketers to lead Australia.

Batsmen in a flat spin

A leg spin/googly bowler during his time, he had batsmen in a flat spin with his clever and cunning bowling. As a batsman he was a hard and big hitting batsman to whom sixes came naturally.

It was Benaud along with the late West Indian Captain Sir Frank Worrell who brought cricket alive with their daring, aggressive and bold captaincy during the 1960/61 series in Australia.

Both captains had turnstiles creaking for oil, bringing in spectators who were thrilled and enjoyed cricket with the no quarter asked or given as every Test unfolded.

It was Benaud and Worrell who were the captains when the first ever tied Test was played on the Brisbane Cricket Ground during the 1960/61 series. That was the series of series.

Meeting Benaud in Cardiff

In Cardiff where Sri Lanka were bundled out in below 25 overs, in a Test that at one stage was heading for a draw after rain ruined a few days, I met Benaud the legend and reminded him of his visit to Sri Lanka on their way to England for the Ashes.

He immediately mentioned the name of Lindsay Kline. He was reminding me of the mauling that left arm spinner Kline took from Ivers Gunesekara.

‘CI’, as he was better known, belted Kline for six after six, some shots landing on the roof of the then Colombo Oval. Gunesekara was on fire and Kline just stood stupefied watching Gunesekara’s big hitting.

Waving his bat

Then there was another former Australian captain Stephen Waugh, brother of Mark, waving his bat as he usually does after scoring a hundred or a double hundred and who ranks alongside the best captains that Australia has produced.

He was a classic right hand batsman and many were the big runs he made. He had copy book strokes all round the wicket and was no respecter of bowlers pace or spin.

Waugh who took over the captaincy from Mark Taylor, led by example and his team mates gave him 100 per cent and more to take the game to the top. During his reign Australian cricket was unbeatable.

Stan McCabe is there playing the hook shot. He was a batsman of rare ability. He played during the Bradman era and one innings he played, which was a double hundred stunned even the great Don.

SCG getting a facelift

The Sydney Cricket Ground with a long history behind it is getting a facelift what with 50-over 2015 World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Not only the SCG but all other grounds where matches are to be played are getting similar facelifts.

Construction on the new Northern Stand at the SCG has started with over 25 per cent of the basement’s concrete pour completed while formwork to the Level 1 concourse area well under way.

The Northern Stand will deliver: - World class catering, bar and dining facilities – premium undercover spectator seating – Long bar and micro-brewery off the mid-level with field of play viewing corporate hospital areas – 700-persons dining room and lounge area offering field of play views to the south and CDB to the north and west.

Skyline roof terrace

A large landscape skyline roof terrace offering views over the lawn and to the CDB and beyond – New 272 metre square videoscreen – the largest stadium video screen in Australia – New AFL change rooms –New ground maintenance facilities – Cricket media facilities will include print, radio and TV broadcast areas – TV studios, lounging area, theatrette and interview rooms.

Capacity will increase from 46,000 to 48,000 with an additional 2,099 premiere seats – Seating decks will be located closer to the field of play – 85 per cent of seats will be under cover and there will be no sightline affected seats caused by roof support columns.

There will be a grand entry atrium located next to the existingclock tower with escalator entry. The Clock Tower has been retained for heritage. The construction of the Northern Stand is part of the SCG’s Master Plan, which was undertaken in 2000. Stage one of the master plan involved the construction of the Trumper Stand.

Trust Master Plan

The SCG Trust Master Plan includes retaining the heritage listed Members Pavilion and Ladies Stand. The modern Pavilion style nature of the new stand will complement the adjacent historic Members and Lade Stand.

The Northern Stand development will be in operation for the 2013-14 Ashes series between Australia and England and the 2015 World Cup.

The SCG’s capacity during the 2012-13 summer of cricket will be 38,000,including 200 temporary seats.

The project will cost an estimated $ 186 million. The Noble Stand (1,936) was over 76 years old, the Bradman Stand (1,973) was over 39 years old and the Messenger Stand (1,984) was over 28 years old.

Meeting Sumanadasa

During our stay in Sydney, Vernon ‘Philander’ Gunesekera, Sport Editor of the ‘Dinamina’ and the writer were the guests of former Lake House Pictures Editor Nishantha Sumanadasa and his charming lady Nayana. Nishantha is one of the sons of that brilliant photographer R.B.M. Sumanadasa.

I got to know ‘R.B.M’ when I was a cub reporter at the old ‘Times of Ceylon’ in the 1960s. He was the Airport Correspondent in Katunayake and was on the ball and did a splendid job. He later joined Lake House.

We spent many hours recalling the good old days at Lake House and the cricketing engagements Nishantha covered including visits by international cricket teams and the famous ‘Big matches’ in Sri Lanka.

Nishantha recalled many hilarious incidents he enjoyed during his rounds with the camera at Lake House. He really enjoyed covering the ‘big matches’ in Colombo between Royal and S.Thomas’, Josephian-Peterite and the Ananda-Nalanda.

Nishantha covered the Sri Lanka-Australia Third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the ‘Daily News’ and the ‘Dinamina’.

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