The process of renaming the promotion, which has stood since 1925, had begun long before Warne’s death in March 2022. The promotion was previously named after upcoming Australian footballer Kevin Murray, who has supported the swap. Murray’s title now graces a rise on Brunswick Boulevard Oval in Fitzroy, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
The MCG named its next south survey Warne at his funeral in 2022, but the process to rename the heritage indexed survey on the western side of Junction Oval in St Kilda, a suburb just south of Melbourne’s CBD, took a while more than time.
Warne’s father Keith and two daughters Summer and Brooke attended the reveal, which took place before Victoria faced Untouched South Wales in a One-Age Cup match at Junction Oval. Australia Captain Pat Cummins and a group of Australian players, including Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, attended the ritual before taking part in the game. Some of Warne’s former teammates from Australia, Victoria and St Kilda also attended the opening.
Cricket Victoria has also unveiled a Shane Warne exhibition in the foyer of its management and performance center at the northern end of the grassland. The exhibition features memorabilia from Warne’s occupation, a dozen of them provided by his father, and they are easy to consult.
“Today is a very special and proud day for the Warne family. Having a stand named Shane Warne here at Junction Oval is a wonderful tribute to Shane, who we know would be honored to be chosen for such an accolade,” said Keith Warne. at the inauguration.
“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 years of cricket were while playing for his beloved St Kilda, especially when matches were played here at the Junction. Oval As proud as Shane would be to know that a stand at Junction Oval is named after him, he would also be delighted to know that he will now be forever linked with St Kilda Cricket Club and Junction Oval in the name of his family. “Thank you to Cricket Victoria and St Kilda Cricket Club for their support in honoring Shane with such a wonderful tribute, further enhancing Shane’s incredible legacy.”
