Aussie venue for England cricket team’s finest hour faces grandstand demolition.
The venerable Sydney Cricket Ground is to get a major $191 million makeover with the demolition of three spectator stands in favour of one huge state-of-the-art grandstand, officials said on Tuesday.
But as England cricket fans will be keen to point out, this will not be the first demolition to hit the ground, the Australians having fallen to a humiliating innings defeat as England retained the Ashes in 2010.
Known as the city’s “grand lady”, the SCG began life as a military cricket ground in the 1850s and hosted its first Test, against England, in 1882.
The ground celebrated its 100th Test on Tuesday with Australia’s second Test against India, and Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a sweeping upgrade of the “iconic sporting arena” to mark the occasion.
“This is an exciting project, not only for Sydneysiders but for all Australians, who have grown up watching the New Year’s Test and relishing in the history and tradition of the ground,” Gillard said in a statement.
“Today marks the beginning of the next stage of SCG’s development to ensure it maintains its rightful place as a world-class sporting facility.”
Work is expected to begin shortly after Australia’s one-day international against India in February and the upgrade is scheduled for completion in time for the Ashes series against England in early 2014.
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