We were up and about fairly early this morning as we've booked on a tour of the MCG - Melbourne Cricket Ground - The 'G' - one of the most iconic stadia in the world.
The ground is in Yarra Park only a couple of kms away, so we decided to walk along the river and this part of it reminded me very much of Richmond, with many boathouses and lots of activity going on with rowing boats.
We asked one chap if there was a regatta happening, which there was but out of town and the activity was them getting ready to leave - shame.
The riverside paths are shared with walkers, cyclists, joggers et al.
The walk should have been easy, except for the Australian Tennis Open which had finished the previous weekend and the whole area around the Rod Laver Arena (which is next door to the MCG).
was a giant de-construction site with all the temporary things erected for the tournament like corporate hostility being dismantled. Anyway to cut a long story short, we walked all around both the Rod Laver Arena and the MCG before finally reaching the correct entrance - good job we'd left the hotel an hour earlier than should have been necessary.
Outside the ground were statues of two greats of Australian Cricket - Shane Warne, a Victorian (makes me giggle) and Dennis Lillie, who although from Western Australia took a large proportion of his test wickets on this ground.
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Our tour guide Phil was extremely interesting and entertaining too.
I was surprised to learn that not only cricket is played in the MCG, but numerous other sports including Aussie Rules, Soccer, Rugby Union, Tennis, Real Tennis, Lacrosse, Hockey, Netball and Phil's sport of Baseball. After each cricket season the pitch is taken up and replaced by one suitable for winter football, and then returned the following year. Just imagine that happening at Lord's.
Touching the hallowed turf.
Seating capacity is 100,024 (currently the largest in the world, although Eden Park, Kolkata is currently being extended).
There is a match being played this evening so we couldn't visit the changing rooms (good job too -probably smelly anyway!). The view from the top was pretty impressive.
And looking down onto the pitch.
Tonight's match is a T20 between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder so their logos are being painted on the turf (with food dye apparently).
Plus that of the sponsors - KFC.
The geometric patterns are incredibly precise.
This board details the record wickets and runs made at the ground, firstly domestic and then international. Viv Richards held the batting record until Cook's 244 and apparently his name came down that very night.
Street chess outside the library.
