Sydney Cricket Ground

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Ground Activities

Cricket

(from Cricinfo)

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Cricket has been played at the ground from as long ago as 1848, then known as the Garrison Ground, but many other sports have established a presence, to such an extent no less that a bike track actually ringed the playing surface between the 1890s and 1920s. This relationship has also been tested by the generally strained connection between the SCG Trust and the New South Wales Cricket Association, the low point of which was reached in the late 1970s when Neville Wran's State government created legislation to reconfigure the composition of the Trust and bring Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket to the ground.

Related Topics:
Cricket - 1848 - Garrison Ground - SCG Trust - New South Wales Cricket Association - 1970s - Neville Wran - Kerry Packer - World Series Cricket

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In its earlier incarnations, the pitches were favourable for batting, resulting in mammoth scores. The highest of these was compiled in 1929-30 season, when Sir Donald Bradman made his celebrated personal best of 452 for New South Wales in a match against Queensland. From the early 1970s though, the square's character has undergone a number of revisions. Principally, it has come to be seen as a spinner's paradise - never more clearly than in memorable Australian Test wins over West Indies in 1984-85 (when Bob Holland and Murray Bennett piloted the home team to a crushing success) and in 1988-89 (when the left arm orthodox spin of Allan Border claimed an unlikely 11 scalps). Of course, this is not to say that the limelight has been stolen purely by slow bowlers; West Indian Brian Lara's masterful 277 in 1992-93 and paceman Fanie De Villiers' match haul of 10 for 123 at the forefront of South Africa's amazing five run win in 1993-94 underlining the point.

Related Topics:
Donald Bradman - New South Wales - Queensland - Australian - West Indies - Bob Holland - Murray Bennett - Allan Border - Brian Lara - Fanie De Villiers - South Africa

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Australian Rules Football

As mentioned before, the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League plays most of their home games at the ground. However, Australian Rules have been played at the ground long before the Swans' arrival, for in 1881 an intercolonial game between NSW and Victoria was played on the ground. The South Melbourne Swans also paid a visit to the ground in 1905 for a number of exhibition games, which was then followed by the arrival of the re-christened Sydney Swans nearly 80 years later in 1982.

Related Topics:
Sydney Swans - Australian Football League - 1881 - NSW - Victoria - South Melbourne Swans - 1905 - 1982

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While the first years of the Swans in their new home were not particularly fruitful years, the Swans have come to be accustomed to their new home, and the SCG has proven itself to be one of the most feared home grounds in all of the AFL: Since its dimensions are much cozier than other footy grounds like the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, AAMI Stadium in Adelaide or Subiaco Oval in Perth, the Swans have an advantage in this aspect, and have played this advantage to the fullest.

Related Topics:
Melbourne Cricket Ground - Telstra Dome - Melbourne - AAMI Stadium - Adelaide - Subiaco Oval - Perth

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One of their greatest games was their 1996 preliminary final against Essendon, in a match that featured Swans great Tony Lockett's finest hour, as he booted a boatload of goals to send the Swans to their first Grand Final in 50 years.

Related Topics:
1996 - Essendon - Tony Lockett

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While some major games (i.e. the annual "Big Game" against Collingwood) are played at Telstra Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park, the SCG is still the Swans' premier home ground.

Related Topics:
Collingwood - Telstra Stadium - Sydney Olympic Park

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Rugby League

The SCG bears a rich history in the game of rugby league, for many years it was the venue for most of the important league games held in Sydney. The largest crowd ever to fill the SCG was for the 1965 NSWRL Grand Final between Souths and St.George

Related Topics:
Rugby league - NSWRL - Grand Final - Souths - St.George

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Between 1913, when Easts def. Newtown in the first NSWRL match played there, and the 1987 Grand Final, the SCG played host to over 1000 Premiership matches and finals (more than any other ground). The best game of the round, the "Match of the Day", was transferred to the SCG for many seasons.

Related Topics:
1913 - Easts - Newtown - 1987 - Finals

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The unavailibilty of the ground, due to the uncertain length of the finals series, led to the NSWRL changing its final system in 1954 - from 1954 to 1987, all NSWRL Grand Finals were fought out at the SCG. In addition, it was the venue for many representative games - Test matches, interstate, and City v Country.

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With the opening of the Sydney Football Stadium (currently known as Aussie Stadium) in 1988, the long history of major rugby league games at the SCG came to an end, the last Grand Final there saw Manly defeat Canberra in the 1987 decider. Finals and other important games are now shared between the SFS and Stadium Australia (currently known as Telstra Stadium)

Related Topics:
Sydney Football Stadium - 1988 - Manly - Canberra - 1987 - Stadium Australia

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However, in 1999 and since 2003, St. George-Illawarra and Souths have returned to the SCG for one game each year.

Related Topics:
1999 - 2003 - St. George-Illawarra - Souths

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Rugby Union

Others

In January 2005, the SCG hosted WaveAid - a concert to raise money for the victims of the Boxing Day Tsunami

Related Topics:
WaveAid - Boxing Day Tsunami

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