The 'G'

Today included a visit to the MCG.

The MCG is the largest stadium in Australia, and holds the world record for the highest light towers at any sporting venue. It is within walking distance of the city centre (as are all of the main sporting venues in Melbourne). Founded in November 1838 the Melbourne Cricket Club selected the current MCG site in 1853 after previously playing at several grounds around Melbourne.

Until the 1970s, more than 120,000 people were sometimes crammed into the venue - the record crowd standing at around 130,000 for a Billy Graham religious event in 1959, followed by 121,696 for the 1970 VFL Grand Final. Renovations and safety regulations now limit the maximum capacity to just over 100,000. This makes it the eighth largest stadium in the world.

The first international cricket game was on New Year’s Day 1862 when an English invitation 11 played against a Victorian 18. The Victorians were allowed extra players to make the contest more even! Some estimates put the crowd at the MCG that day at 25,000. The Victorians however, were no match for the English at cricket and the visitors won by an innings and 96 runs.

Not only was the first Test match played at the MCG in 1897 between England and Australia, the first One Day International match was also played there, on 5 January 1971, between Australia and England. Australia won the 40-over match by 5 wickets.

The MCG was also the location of the infamous dirty Australian underam bowling incident. This highlights how ridiculous the decsion of Greg Chappel to instruct his brother Richard to bowl underam. The ground is so big it is difficlult for anyone to get close to hitting a six let alone Brian McKechnie, a tailender who had just come to the crease.

Andrew Symonds has just denounced the NSW 20/20 team to import Brendon Mcullum for their final game as "unaustralian". Given their history I would venture to say that it is perfecty Australian! God bless 'em!