A grandstand at the historic Junction Oval in Melbourne, home to Cricket Victoria and the St Kilda Cricket Club, has been renamed in honor of the legendary Shane Warne. This special tribute recognizes Warne’s significant contributions to Victoria and his beloved club, St Kilda.
Honoring a Cricket Legend
The heritage-listed grandstand, which has been part of the Junction Oval since 1925, was renamed to celebrate Warne’s legacy. The process to rename the stand began well before Warne’s untimely passing in March 2022, with the change receiving the support of Kevin Murray, the Australian rules footballer after whom the stand was originally named. Murray’s name now appears on a stand at the Brunswick Street Oval in Fitzroy, northern Melbourne.
Attended by Family and Cricket Icons
Warne’s father, Keith Warne, and his daughters, Summer and Brooke, attended the unveiling ceremony held before a One-Day Cup match between Victoria and New South Wales at the Junction Oval. The event saw a gathering of cricket greats, including Australia Test captain Pat Cummins, as well as players like Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, who participated in the game afterward. Many of Warne’s former teammates from Australia, Victoria, and St Kilda were also present to pay tribute.
Adding to Warne’s Legacy
This dedication follows the MCG’s decision to name its southern stand after Warne during his state funeral in 2022. The process for renaming the heritage-listed stand at Junction Oval took longer, but it is a fitting tribute to Warne, who made his first-class debut for Victoria against Western Australia at the same ground in February 1991.
Cricket Victoria also unveiled a Shane Warne exhibition in the foyer of their administration and high-performance center, located at the northern end of the ground. The exhibition, which showcases memorabilia from Warne’s illustrious career, was largely supplied by his father and is free for visitors to enjoy.
Keith Warne’s Emotional Tribute
During the unveiling, Keith Warne shared his pride in the tribute, stating, “Today marks a very special and proud day for the Warne family. To have a stand named the Shane Warne stand here at the Junction Oval is a wonderful accolade for Shane, who we know would be honored.” He also reflected on Warne’s early cricketing years, saying, “Some of Shane’s most enjoyable early cricketing years were with St Kilda, especially when matches were played here. He would be thrilled to know that he will now be forever linked with the St Kilda Cricket Club and the Junction Oval.”
The renaming of the stand serves as a lasting reminder of Warne’s enduring impact on cricket, further cementing his legacy at the ground where his professional career began.
