Shane Warne stand unveiled at Junction Oval in Melbourne

October 26, 2024

A heritage listed grandstand at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, where the late Shane Warne made his first-class cricket debut, was yesterday renamed in his honour.

The newly named Shane Warne Stand at the St Kilda venue, the home of Cricket Victoria and the St Kilda Cricket Club, was officially unveiled ahead of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield match against NSW.

The process of renaming the stand, which has stood since 1925, had begun well before Warne's death in March 2022 - at the age of just 52 - and was intended to honour his contribution to Victoria and his club team St Kilda.

The stand was formerly named after Fitzroy footballing legend Kevin Murray.

However, the Murray family gave their support to the change to honour Warne, with the ground no longer hosting Australian football since its 2017 redevelopment as the base for Cricket Victoria. Murray's name now adorns ate stand at Brunswick Street Oval, the traditional home of the Lions, in Fitzroy in Melbourne's northern suburbs.

The Junction Oval is now commercially known as the CitiPower Centre, hosting fixtures for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and Domestic One-Day Cup, WBBL fixtures and other matches for the state.

Warne's father Keith and his two daughters Summer and Brooke attended yesterday’s unveiling, along with Australian Test captain Pat Cummins while players Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell attended the ceremony before playing in the game. Some of Warne's former Australia, Victoria and St Kilda teammates were also in attendance at the unveiling.

Speaking at the unveiling, Keith Warne stated “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 tribute to Shane, who we know would be honored to be chosen for such an accolade.

"In February 1991 he made his first-class debut playing for Victoria against Western Australia here at the Junction Oval. Some of Shane's most enjoyable early cricketing years were whilst playing with his beloved St Kilda, especially when the matches were played here at the Junction Oval.

“As proud as Shane would be to know a stand at the Junction Oval bares his name, he would also be thrilled to know that he will now be forever linked with St Kilda Cricket Club and the Junction Oval.

“On behalf of her family, I'd like to thank Cricket Victoria and St Kilda Cricket Club for their support in honouring Shane with such a wonderful tribute, further enhancing Shane's incredible legacy."

The historic grandstand was renovated and reopened ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup in 2020.

Cricket Victoria has also unveiled an exhibition paying tribute to the spin bowler in the foyer of their administration and high performance centre at the northern end of the ground. The exhibition features memorabilia from his career and is free to visit.

Warne already has a grandstand named after him, with the Great Southern Stand at the MCG renamed the Shane Warne Stand in 2022

Image: Keith Warne at yesterday’s unveiling of the Shane Warne Stand at Junction Oval. Credit: Cricket Victoria.

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